Eminent Domain, Oregon style

In the discussion on the recent Supreme Court decision that gives cities much more flexibility to take away private citizens property for whatever reason, RoguePundit noticed that there is a case here in the Portland area right now.

The following is their description of the Hillsboro case. Note that Hillsboro ensured there was a public use component to the proposed development. Also note that when Hillsboro condemned the land necessary for the Intel fab plants, Orenco station, and other facilities, it cited urban blight, a legitimate use of eminent domain.

The city of Hillsboro has teamed up with private developer Specht Development to build a new, $33.7 million civic center. Part of the facility will serve as City Hall, but most of the planned five-story development consists of residences and offices, with retail shops and other businesses occupying the ground floor and street-level storefronts. The developer and the city will jointly own the civic center, while the developer will manage the 113 affordable-rate apartments 27 market-rate apartment units, as well as the commercial space. In order to gain ownership of a choice site in the middle of the Hillsboro business district, the city would have to remove the two stable, thriving businesses that already operate there.

It's kind of a Kelo mix, as it's partly for public use and partly for private developers. Still kind of slimy that they took out two existing businesses, that were doing well, in order to accomplish their aims.