Kelo vs. City of New London
could be among the closest-watched cases of the Supreme Court’s 2004-05 term.
The Connecticut Supreme Court ruled that New London had a valid public use to justify eminent domain, based on the thousands of jobs and significant revenue that officials project would be generated by the redevelopment on a 90-acre parcel. New London’s plan would include a waterfront hotel and conference center, office space and 80 residential properties. It is intended to take advantage of a decision by pharmaceutical giant Pfizer to build a research facility nearby….
In their appeal, the homeowners say they “seek to stop the use of eminent domain to take away their most sacred and important of possessions: their homes.”
Together, the seven holdout property owners possess 15 parcels. Their neighborhood originally had about 115 parcels, a mix of homes and small businesses. (USA Today)