A Mercedes Benz dealership in Arcadia, Calif., can proceed with its long-coveted expansion without affecting the historic Rod’s Grill restaurant, reported the Pasadena Star-News.
Rusnak Arcadia had long wanted the Rod’s Grill lot for an expansion, or it threatened to move to another town. The owner of Rod’s Grill had successfully fought the dealership’s efforts to acquire his property, including eminent domain proceedings in 2006.
The Star-News reported:
Now, the city’s Redevelopment Agency has acquired the last parcel of a 2-acre site it intends to sell to Rusnak, part of a development deal that would enable the dealership to expand while adding Santa Anita Avenue frontage – sans the diner’s lot.
“I feel satisfied with how everything turned out,” Manny Romero, owner of Rod’s Grill, said this past week.
“I got to stay in my business….It’s good to see that Rusnak motors is operating and doing good… And for Dahlgren’s and other properties, if (the owners) sell, that’s their choice. It’s good to know that they were not forced to sell.” […]
Meanwhile, Richard Coombes of Pasadena, a regular customer of Rod’s Grill for “30-some years,” said he was pleased the restaurant has been able to keep its prime location even as Rusnak readies to grow. In fact, he said, he often sees the dealership’s employees eating lunch at the diner.
“There is no reason why these two businesses can’t coexist,” said Coombes. “You can’t tell me that you’re going to put one man out of business just so another place can expand.”
The situation got so acrimonious that Arcadia voters agreed to strip eminent-domain powers away from the city’s development authority in 2007. Romero also lobbied for a referendum that would have outlawed auto sales on his block, but voters rejected that by a wide margin.
Although I generally hold a dim view to eminent domain, it should remain an option for municipalities that wish to protect properties on the state or National Register of Historic Places. Cities should have the option to shield those properties from ignorant or greedy developers.
This is somewhat good news for Rod’s. I just hope that the inappropriate business does not encircle Rod’s and end up turning business away from the historic (and delicious!) eatery.
Eminent domain is supposed to be used for building roads, bridges, etc.
It was never meant for taking property from one private owner and giving it to another private owner.
Tell the Supreme Court that. The ruling in 2006 affirmed private-to-private use, and it’ll be lawful for many years to come.
And, again, I’m not willing to throw out eminent domain entirely just because some folks find it distasteful. For instance, if someone owned Independence Hall in Philadelphia and wanted to tear it down for a shopping mall, it would be the city’s rightful duty to seize that historic property from the irresponsible owner and deed it to someone else who would care for it. In such obviously important cases, I think it’s important for municipalities to have such tools at their disposal.