The developer's plans include a movie theatre, Applebee's and places where people can buy "nice shoes" as the director of the Planning Board stated at a community meeting. There will also be a St. Peter's dormitory and residential units that can be bought by the public (like the city needs more condos). It is a joint project between a private developer and a private school. St. Peter's wants to attract and house more student dollars and the developer will be able to sell retail and office space in a prospering college town. They both make LOTS OF MONEY. But if they want the property, shouldn't they have to negotiate to buy it directly from the owner? When did the city become a real estate broker?

Everyone wants to see the area look better. Some properties in the area were neglected and should be condemned. But using eminent domain against the property owners who maintained their property to allow the developer to buy all of the properties it wants for a fraction of the true market value is not right. Defending your property against eminent domain is time-consuming and expensive ($50,000-$100,000 easy). No landowner wants to go through this.

With eminent domain, there is no such thing private property anymore. You're just waiting for the government or a developer to take it from you for a fraction of its worth. Property owners have to stick together and demand that the city council does not allow eminent domain!