Check out our roundup of recent Texas eminent domain news:
Texas Supreme Court sides with bullet train backers, clearing way for use of eminent domain for land
Source: Houston Chronicle
Texas Central Railroad, according to the Texas Supreme Court, is a railroad, ending a five-year legal battle over the controversial high-speed rail company’s right to use state eminent domain laws.
The ruling, unless a federal court intervenes or stops the company in another way, clears the path for backers of the Houston-to-Dallas bullet train to acquire land over the objections of landowners unwilling to sell.
Texas could give landowners more say in eminent domain negotiations under bill sent to Greg Abbott’s desk
Source: The Texas Tribune
The Texas Legislature approved a bill late last month that will revise eminent domain negotiations between landowners and companies — such as railroads, pipeline and utility companies — that are seeking to condemn land, requiring that landowners be given the terms of the contract up front, as well as more information about the eminent domain process. It now goes to Gov. Greg Abbott for his consideration.
Eminent domain lawsuit surrounds Bell Blvd. project
Source: Community Impact Newspaper
Tina Mallach’s family opened Cedar Park Fabrics in 1994. Today, the two buildings where the business stood on Old Hwy. 183 are demolished. The city of Cedar Park used eminent domain to take and demolish the buildings — and several neighboring properties — for the project to realign Bell Boulevard to the Old Hwy. 183 route. As required by law, the city compensated $342,000, which is about $62 per square foot, is nearly equal to what the land was purchased for decades ago, Mallach said.
In the ongoing eminent domain case, Mallach is asking for the fair market value of her Old Hwy. 183 property, which she considers to be $250 per square foot.
