Seriously, eminent domain when the city should have anticipated parking problems with the new development YEARS ago? Offer fair market and move on, city. Help the owner find a new location. Be a good neighbor.

And speaking of parking, what's up with on-street parking. If electeds were serious about parking, they would have already had on-street, with meter parking in place (now don't get me wrong, I think parking on Rte 1 is a disaster waiting to happen). But this, on-street parking, is in the mayor's sphere of influence.

Back to eminent domain for a sec: What's next? Will the city of Hyattsville decide it needs my house or your apartment building for a long-standing issue? And for pennies on the dollar? No thanks.

I'm still trying to figure out why we need a parking deck. "A city within walking distance" and you're going to slap a monstrous alter to the automobile right in the middle of it. There are so many things wrong with this situation. Who believes that Baltimore ave. is going to become a regional shopping/entertainment district that needs to attract heavy automobile traffic? I'm all for the success of businesses on our "main street," but let's get real about who those businesses are primarily serving: residents of Hyattsville who need to get off our lazy butts and walk to the shops and restaurants. As for eminent domain, it sickens me how often developers bully courts into believing that these laws stretch to include economic boons for redevelopment target areas. I hope these property owners, who clearly don't want to move, can make a stand until our representatives see the ridiculousness of this entire project.

"Whether or not we are actively negotiating, I am not the person to tell you that, but I can assure you that the city is going to get this property," said Colaresi.

This is just plain wrong and disgusting… that a government agency can just up and decide they want something and if the owner doesn’t want to give it… the governments can “legally” take it. Most small businesses are struggling and now these two businesses have to put out money for Lawyers to fight this injustice. Not to mention the cost of finding a new place to move the business and the cost of moving the business… if in fact they can find a suitable place that they can afford. And they have to do all this while still trying to run their business.

Continued:
How long have these businesses been good business citizens and partners in Hyattsville… paying their taxes… providing jobs and services to the community? And Hyattsville was gladly accepting their taxes. But now they don’t fit into the grand scheme of Hyattsville and the new Route 1 corridor and they are fine with kicking them to the curb.

If this type of thing is going to be legal it should be slanted in favor of the property owner. If the city wants this property so bad they should have to find a suitable property for the business to move to and they should have to foot the bill to move the business. And then still compensate the business for all of their troubles.

I swear it don’t see how politicians sleep at night… Al Capon was nothing compared to governments and politicians.

Wow! This is just sad. What an abuse of power. Typical of the idiot politicians we have in PG.

I have to disagree with you all. And honestly, comparing City Council to the Gestapo is repugnant. Dear lord, they are not secret police routing out Jews. Albert Van Thournout you owe a public apology to those men and women. By all mean disagree but keep the ignore hate speech out of the public forum.

Yes change is difficult. The Hyattsville of yesteryear is long gone and the supporting businesses may or may not keep up with the changing market. The City’s first offer is public information. That does not mean it’s the sale price. It’s an offer. And in fact it is the estimated tax rate developed by the State. Basically that is standard practice as a negotiation starting point. If city council started high I think you’d concede there would be equal ire about careless spending of our tax dollars.

There is ample proof that parking is needed. It is not a ridiculous project nor is it a disgusting process. It’s a smart one and one long planned for. This is not an abuse of power at all. Not even close.

Couldn't his body shop be on the ground floor of the parking facility?

Even in New Jersey our Mayor and Council are having a similar affect. Here, our town's leadership decided to purchase a $2Million piece of land to allow a major developement to better occupy the land. Now our taxes increase. Your article here is so similar to our situation. Please comment if you see the similarities: http://fortlee.patch.com/articles/fort-lee-to-acquire-main-street-property-for-2m-to-build-park

I agree with Tanisha. This is an abuse of power. If you are going to take it away, give them what they need to give up the property and continue with their business, livelihood, and home, and come out whole on their mortgage and business obligations..

Here's a thought. Since so many people have an issue with eminent domain, which is legal, why not have the law abolished or place that power in the hands of voters? OR, is there good eminent domain and bad eminent domain? And when you think about it, didn't some of the places we enjoy belong to someone who was asked to move via eminent domain? There seems to be an outcry every time this power is used, but no one seems to want to have the law changed or eliminated.

Eminent Domain has become an egregious affront to the property rights of all citizens.
Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. The idea that a city council in a small town can decide that it "needs" to take the properties of its citizens to locate a parking garage is reprehensible. This is exactly the type of legalized theft that led to the American Revolution in the first place ! The easier it becomes to excercise eminent domain, the more often it will be used . This issue exemplifies a perversion of the rights and principles upon which our country is founded.

I think what bothers me the most is the assumption that the government is bad as the starting place for the discussion. This string of comments started with Albert Van Thournout comparing our friends and neighbors on the City Council to the Gestapo. Then Farmer Joe is convinced only people who can walk to Baltimore Ave should be accommodated. (The disabled would find your comment short sighted and ignorant.) People are coming to Hyattsville from all over. Just a few years ago they used to come to Hyattsville from all over for hookers and drugs.

Progress and change are contentious. Yes if I were the family who received a fair market offer to sell my home and business I’d give it a good consideration. The family in fact is holding all the cards. The government has already publicly committed to the location. They can’t back down now without losing face.

That is exactly what the family did. THEY COUNTETR OFFERED with $1.2 million. The city has not responded, yet. (No surprise there… it’s called doing business)

So the Mayor stated they were going to get the property. That could also mean they are willing to go up in price to get it. But no, most of the people who commented ASSUMED the City is going to screw the family over. You assume the government is bad and evil.

That’s what I don’t like. You are treating these people who are friends and neighbors with a lack of decency

I have to reply that as someone whose career has been helping children with disabilities, I find your comment "short sighted and ignorant." if you carefully read what I said, I stated that only those who can't walk should be provided parking. In addition, eminent domain does not mean the government is making an offer on a property. People are touchy about this because governments often put down an offer and tell you it is the best you will get while you are forced to surrender your land. Again as i stated it was only to be used on extreme cases for public safety or necessary municipal development, not for parking cars.

It's a different situation Keith. And not sure why you are sticking your nose in others business.

Farmer Joe. I am sorry and what I wrote was rude. I got all worked up about my sisters struggle with her two disabled children and the parking problems she has had. Sorry.

I hope that family gets a fair deal. I think they will. I check to see if they are.