A fly in the eminent domain ointment? RenSquare problems coming to a head
Here is the deal. There is a project called RenSquare that consists of a Bus Terminal, a College Campus and a Theater. The College Campus component is fully funded. Frankly, this could have been could have been built years ago. I said “fully funded” but that really isn’t true as some State GOP Senators redirected funds to other projects - but I digress. Regarding the Bus station component, we are really not sure if it is funded because, County Executive Maggie Brooks and Congresswomen Louise Slaughter disagree over the transportation concept with Slaughter looking ot fund a intermodal train station and Brooks looking to fund her legacy (RenSquare) .
We know the Theater complex is not funded - some guy is trying to raise the money for the Theater.
So maybe the title of this post should be “if they tear it down, they will fund it.”
Meet Neil Bauman - he owns several building that are on the chopping block and is arguing that since the project isn’t funded (the theater part) plus the Theater falls outside the eminent domain rules.
There is a meeting tonight where the points will be argued.
A public hearing regarding condemnation of properties to make way for the Renaissance Square project in downtown Rochester will be held tonight.
The hearing will be held at 7 p.m. at the Hyatt Regency, 125 E. Main St. Registration begins at 6:15 p.m.
This section is scary -
County Attorney Dan DeLaus has said that the planners won’t have a problem taking Bauman’s building by eminent domain even though a theater planned for that corner is not yet funded.
Built it and fund it later? Take a building without a concrete plan?
Bauman said he and his lawyers have found case law challenging that, because RGRGTA would be taking that property for a theater, not a transportation project. He said he does not want to sell to anyone, especially if the theater is not funded.
Good luck Mr Bauman -
Anyone going tonight?
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So it’s big government taking away a small businessman’s property without just cause.
Yo Maggie! Is that a Che t-shirt we see under your blouse?