West Sacramento City Council has unanimously approved the use of eminent domain to acquire private land for the I Street Bridge replacement, aiming to expedite the project despite ongoing disputes over fair market value.”Quiet title action, in my experience, has taken two to three years to get clear. And this would be a better way for us to get control over the properties so that we can continue working amicably,” the city of West Sacramento’s real estate manager, Fred Arnold, said in the meeting.The city aims to clear the title in the most expeditious way, with eminent domain being the straightforward path.”There’s a cloud on the title that we need to get cleared in the most expeditious way. The straight path forward is through eminent domain,” Arnold said.Chris Micheli, a professor at McGeorge School of Law, explained that disputes between property owners and the local government over fair market value could potentially drag out for a considerable amount of time due to how California law handles properties placed in trusts, especially with multiple people having a claim. “Obviously, the local government has to ensure that when they take over the property that they are compensating the proper property owner,” Micheli said.One of the properties is located at the planned western landing of the new bridge. Although the city has not set a date to acquire the land, construction is expected to begin by next spring.”So in this instance, naturally, the local government wants to expedite the construction and, ultimate opening of the bridge as soon as possible,” Micheli said.The city sent a formal offer letter to the property owners, but an agreement has not been reached. While the exact amount is unknown, the city must offer “just compensation,” under the Fifth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, typically defined as fair market value. In offer letters from last December, the city proposed just over half a million dollars for all three properties.Construction is set to begin next year on the new 860-foot bridge. The bridge will be built just north of the existing one, connecting C Street to the Sacramento Railyards. The city stated that eminent domain is not being used to force sales, but due to time constraints, as there are title issues that could take years to resolve.The city has already reached an agreement with one of the property owners and hopes to break ground in the spring.See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel
WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. —
West Sacramento City Council has unanimously approved the use of eminent domain to acquire private land for the I Street Bridge replacement, aiming to expedite the project despite ongoing disputes over fair market value.
“Quiet title action, in my experience, has taken two to three years to get clear. And this would be a better way for us to get control over the properties so that we can continue working amicably,” the city of West Sacramento’s real estate manager, Fred Arnold, said in the meeting.
The city aims to clear the title in the most expeditious way, with eminent domain being the straightforward path.
“There’s a cloud on the title that we need to get cleared in the most expeditious way. The straight path forward is through eminent domain,” Arnold said.
Chris Micheli, a professor at McGeorge School of Law, explained that disputes between property owners and the local government over fair market value could potentially drag out for a considerable amount of time due to how California law handles properties placed in trusts, especially with multiple people having a claim.
“Obviously, the local government has to ensure that when they take over the property that they are compensating the proper property owner,” Micheli said.
One of the properties is located at the planned western landing of the new bridge. Although the city has not set a date to acquire the land, construction is expected to begin by next spring.
“So in this instance, naturally, the local government wants to expedite the construction and, ultimate opening of the bridge as soon as possible,” Micheli said.
The city sent a formal offer letter to the property owners, but an agreement has not been reached. While the exact amount is unknown, the city must offer “just compensation,” under the Fifth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, typically defined as fair market value. In offer letters from last December, the city proposed just over half a million dollars for all three properties.
Construction is set to begin next year on the new 860-foot bridge. The bridge will be built just north of the existing one, connecting C Street to the Sacramento Railyards.
The city stated that eminent domain is not being used to force sales, but due to time constraints, as there are title issues that could take years to resolve.
The city has already reached an agreement with one of the property owners and hopes to break ground in the spring.
See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel