Eminent Domain Powers

Text 10D

Eminent domain, in which the owner of the condemned property is provided "just compensation" for its taking is a police power for the public good. With that power, government takes private property through condemnation proceedings. Throughout the proceedings, the property owner has the right of due process.

Every state has a statute, or statutes, establishing how the eminent domain power may be exercised at the local level. State procedures vary widely, however, in some states, the government is required to negotiate with the property owner before instituting eminent domain proceedings. In other states, the government may institute proceedings without prior notice. The power of eminent domain is not limited to states, cities, and political bodies. In many states, public utilities and even pipeline companies have the power to expropriate private property.

Traditionally, eminent domain has been used to facilitate transportation and the provision of water and other utilities; however, it has been used to establish public parks, preserve places of historic interest, and promote beautification. Municipalities - often through their economic development or redevelopment entities - can also employ eminent domain to "retake" blighted property for urban revitalization.

Eminent domain has been critical to municipalities' revitalization efforts, but these efforts have also generated some of its most vehement criticism. Property owners protest the taking of their land for many reasons. Some of them complain about insufficient compensation. Others protest that condemned parcels may not actually be blighted, or that a taking was not for economic development but simply a transfer of property rights between private landholders for the sole purpose of benefiting the new landholder.

In reviewing recent eminent domain court cases, it is found that it remains unclear whether the cases reflect new resistance to the process or simply the need for legal clarification. All sides must keep in mind that a public purpose must be demonstrated.

It should be noted that the use of eminent domain in property condemnation remains a widely practiced and viable means of land acquisition for a number of public-use purposes.

Lesson 11. URBAN DEVELOPMENT

1. Прочтите следующие слова:

Unfortunately, careful, amount, individuality, pleasures, handiwork, turmoil, circumferential, curvilinear, wantonly, vista, show, congestion, desirous, carriageway, inconvenience, pedestrian, pave.

2. Прочтите и переведите следующие группы слов:

the majority of cases, attractive amenities, it invariably happens, gross handiwork, the purest of human pleasures, dwelling removed from the turmoil and discomfort, well planted and finely laid out, undulation of the site, heavily trafficked streets, to prevent the congestion, approximately the same height, wide grass margins, creation of fitting civic centre.

3. Запомните следующие слова и словосочетания:

allotment garden – небольшой участок, отведенный под сад

amenities (n.) – удобства, удовольствия

bear (born, borne) (v.) – нести, иметь (чувство)

be in commanding position – быть на высоте, занимать господствующее положение

be proud (v.) – гордиться

carriageway (n.) – проезжая часть дороги

circumferential (adj.) – кольцевой

civic centre – общественный центр

conduit (n.) – водопровод, трубопровод

congestion (n.) – скопление

convenience (n.) – удобство, выгода

convince (v.) – убеждать

desirous (adj.) - желающий

dignified (adj.) - величественный

err (v.) – заблуждаться

exercise (v.) – выполнять, проявлять

fitting centre – салон красоты

from many points of vantage – с точки зрения многих преимуществ

front to (v.) – выходить на первый план

grades of property – качество, класс, расположение недвижимости

gravity flow – основной сток

gross handiwork – ручная работа в чистом виде

haphazard (adj.) – случайный, бессистемный, сделанный наугад

heavily trafficked street – сильно запруженные улицы

imply (v.) – подразумевать, значить

in respect to – с учётом

intersect (v.) – пересекать

invariably (adv.) – неизменно, устойчиво

margin (n.) – край

mortar (n.) – известковый или строительный раствор

obtain (v.) – получать

obviate (v.) – устранять, избавляться

pave (v.) – мостить

provision (зд.) (n.) – 1. обеспечение, снабжение; 2. положение

radiate (v.) – исходить из центра

rectangular (adj.) – прямоугольный

setting (n.) – окружающая обстановка, окружение, художественное оформление

show (v.) – показывать

sidewalk (n.) – тротуар

spinnies and glades – рощицы и поляны

spirit (n.) – дух

spoil (v.) – портить

the great architect of the universe – великий архитектор вселенной

thoroughfare (n.) – проезд, оживленная улица, главная артерия города

turmoil (n.) – cуматоха, шум, беспорядок

ultimately (adv.) – в конечном счетe

unconscious (adj.) – несознательный, бессовестный

undulation (n.) – неровность

wantonly (adv.) – беспричинно, безответственно, бессмысленно

worthy (adj.) – достойный, подобающий

4. Прочтите и переведите следующий текст:

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