Spring Valley moves to condemn 15 properties
By SUZAN CLARKE
THE JOURNAL NEWS
(Original publication: July 1, 2005)
Spring Valley asked the state Supreme Court this week to allow it to condemn 15 downtown properties so it can begin a long-awaited revitalization project.
Should the court grant the request, filed Wednesday, the village would buy the properties, which range from 65A to 94N N. Main St., Village Attorney Bruce Levine said yesterday.
The properties lie in two designated development zones in the urban renewal area, and the village is condemning the properties either because the owners were unwilling to sell or because talks broke down.
"We know that there were numbers of them that they wanted to sell, but they didn't agree with our price," Levine said.
Municipalities can use eminent domain to condemn property for public use. The owner must be justly compensated.
The first phase of the project calls for Community Preservation Corp., a Hawthorne-based nonprofit developer, to tear down buildings on Main and Grove streets and to build two six-story units of affordable housing with retail space.
Next week, the village will close on the sale of three properties, Levine said. Negotiations with other owners would remain open.
The village conducted two thorough appraisals and believed its final offer to property owners was fair, he added.
Ronel LeCorps disagreed, saying the village's offer did not reflect market price.
"I've been here in this building for 10 years," said LeCorps, who runs LeCorps Income Tax, a tax preparation and accounting practice on 78 N. Main St. "I purchased the building in 1998 and this is my bread and butter."
"I feel bad. Everybody feels bad about it," he said. "A lot of these owners will be forced to get out of business. They won't be able to afford another place."
The return date for the proceeding is Aug. 5.
By SUZAN CLARKE
THE JOURNAL NEWS
(Original publication: July 1, 2005)
Spring Valley asked the state Supreme Court this week to allow it to condemn 15 downtown properties so it can begin a long-awaited revitalization project.
Should the court grant the request, filed Wednesday, the village would buy the properties, which range from 65A to 94N N. Main St., Village Attorney Bruce Levine said yesterday.
The properties lie in two designated development zones in the urban renewal area, and the village is condemning the properties either because the owners were unwilling to sell or because talks broke down.
"We know that there were numbers of them that they wanted to sell, but they didn't agree with our price," Levine said.
Municipalities can use eminent domain to condemn property for public use. The owner must be justly compensated.
The first phase of the project calls for Community Preservation Corp., a Hawthorne-based nonprofit developer, to tear down buildings on Main and Grove streets and to build two six-story units of affordable housing with retail space.
Next week, the village will close on the sale of three properties, Levine said. Negotiations with other owners would remain open.
The village conducted two thorough appraisals and believed its final offer to property owners was fair, he added.
Ronel LeCorps disagreed, saying the village's offer did not reflect market price.
"I've been here in this building for 10 years," said LeCorps, who runs LeCorps Income Tax, a tax preparation and accounting practice on 78 N. Main St. "I purchased the building in 1998 and this is my bread and butter."
"I feel bad. Everybody feels bad about it," he said. "A lot of these owners will be forced to get out of business. They won't be able to afford another place."
The return date for the proceeding is Aug. 5.