Real Estate & Property Law

Downsizing Detroit

By Alan Ackerman

After delaying the process for a number of months, Detroit Mayor Bing is determined in moving forward with a downsizing project so Detroit becomes "right sized". The process will not be an easy one, but it expressed in the article, the project is worthwhile and the effort must be made.

Mlive.com

Incoming Governor Rick Snyder said it early and often on the campaign trail: "Michigan cannot be a great state until Detroit is on the path to being a great city."

Citing that shared goal, local eminent domain attorney Alan Ackerman said he believes Lansing could step in to aid Bing's downsizing efforts.

"I think you'll find legislation that puts people on notice that their rights will be limited," Ackerman said. "The city might look to legislation which allows a second-system status, sort of, for these areas where it wants to deactivate full services. They won't become Townships, per se, but they might act more like it in terms of not guaranteeing sewer and water."

Ackerman in 2004 led a successful fight to overturn the 1981 Michigan Supreme Court decision that allowed Detroit to uproot residents so General Motors could build its Poletown plant. But in this case, Ackerman believes Bing must cut services to some areas while actively reaching out to community members to curb critical reaction.

"The problem to date, the reason for the virulent dissatisfaction expressed at public meetings, is that people are worried it will be their community," he said. "I think Mayor Bing will do best by identifying where he wants to do this and why. Before he makes the announcement, he should go see those people. Literally, he and his staff. I think you'd be shocked. It's going to be a person-to-person thing."

Full post as published by National Eminent Domain Blog on December 14, 2010 (boomark / email).