Willis Avenue Bridge. Image Credit: Google Maps.

Construction work on the Willis Avenue Bridge caused flooding on adjacent property. In March 2007, the City acquired by condemnation property adjacent to the property owned by 82 Willis, LLC. The condemnation was in connection with the City’s reconstruction of the Willis Avenue Bridge over the Harlem River. (more…)

Owner claimed an additional $3 million in attorney’s fees, based on disputes over the valuation of property. In 2014 the New York State Urban Development Corporation took by eminent domain the property of TKGSM-NY, LLC, a Brooklyn business. The State ultimately paid over $25 million to compensate the business for its property located at 718-728 Atlantic Avenue, Brooklyn. The owner asserted that the lengthy efforts to resolve the differences between the appraisal offered by the New York State Urban Development Corporation and the appraisal offered by the owner had resulted in excessive legal expenses. The owner sought $3 million in attorney’s fees as additional compensation for its property. (more…)

Image Credit: WaterfrontAlliance.org

Owner claimed de facto taking when City installed storm drains that flooded land designated as a wetland. The firm 594 Associates, Inc. acquired vacant land on Staten Island in 1985. The land was designated freshwater wetlands or wetlands adjacent area, and therefore development was not permitted. On September 26, 2005, the City constructed a headwall on the property’s border with an adjacent street. The headwall contained an outlet for one of the adjacent street’s storm drains and a second overflow outlet. These devices caused storm-water to accumulate on the 594 Associates land during storms. In October 2010, the City of New York acquired the land under eminent domain as part of its South Richmond Bluebelt, Phase 3, Project. (more…)

Image Credit: GoogleMaps

Opponents claimed City missed three-year time period to initiate eminent domain proceedings. In June 2009, the City authorized the taking of ten parcels of land near East 125th Street by eminent domain. The takings were part of an urban renewal plan in an area known for African-American art, entertainment, and history. Some of the affected properties included a thirty-year-old auto business, a not-for-profit center, a BP service station and a billboard stanchion. The parcels were located between East 126th Street to the north, East 125th Street to the south, Second Avenue to the east, and Third Avenue to the west. (more…)

Aerial View of Willets Point with Convention Center to the North. Image: Courtesy of EDC.

Willets Point 126th Street Across from CitiField. Image: Courtesy of EDC.

City targeting 12.75-acre site adjacent to Citi Field for first phase of construction. On May 9, 2011, The City’s Economic Development Corporation issued a request for proposals seeking a developer for Phase 1 of the Willets Point District redevelopment plan in Queens. The triangle-shaped Willets Point District comprises 61.4 acres generally bounded by Northern Boulevard, the Van Wyck Expressway, and 126th Street. The contentious redevelopment plan was approved by the City Council in November 2008. 5 CityLand 167 (Dec. 2008).

The Phase 1 site is a 12.75-acre parcel along 126th Street and Roosevelt Avenue across from Citi Field. The approved program for Phase 1 construction would permit up to 400 units of mixed-income housing, 680,000 sq.ft. of retail space, and 387 hotel rooms. The developer must create at least 2.08 acres of publicly accessible open space. There will be 7.5 acres of unbuilt area buffering the Phase 1 site. (more…)