Man's Home to Be Demolished to Make Room for a Parking Lot

[@ma3tice]

I think it's absurd that a school board would even have the power to use Eminent Domain.

[@shag139]

Public schools are govt. The usual reasons for eminent domain are roads, dams, schools, railroads, pipeline, etc. However as Steve said, the very fact they say they can’t build the parking lot without this guys land means the value should be extremely high. They probably offered some low ball below FMV let alone the fact he doesn’t want to move from his family home especially for a parking lot.

[@billmoody1362]

New stadium holds over half the population of the entire town,,,, really????

[@Kevin-bl6lg]

Home owner could dump nuclear waste on the property before being forced to hand over the property

[@OldMajor]

The School is Government!

[@jerryinmon2731]

​@@billmoody1362In areas like this mist of the students who attend could actually live outside of the city. In Texas school districts and cities don't necessarily overlap. In this area of Houston the population density outside of the city is going to be very high with large subdivisions with thousands of homes in them and their children will attend that school.

[@rw0037]

Eminent domain should be like the death penalty in the sense that it should require an automatic appeal/review and only be decided in a higher court, especially if the property in question is a primary residence. The idea that a freaking school board staffed with Karen-type soccer moms has the power of eminent domain is beyond crazy.

[@cassiefuchs3657]

Especially for a football stadium's parking lot which is a luxury and not a necessity like roads.

[@EnthalpyAndEntropy]

That’s a lot better than taking it for a private mall or something.

[@tomjones2056]

Football moms. 10k capacity at their high school game lol. That not much smaller than the stadium of my d1 university (that’s decent at football)

[@cbkqmom]

@@EnthalpyAndEntropythere’s no “better” reason for there to be any law that permits stealing someone’s home.

[@EnthalpyAndEntropy]

@@cbkqmom they’re not supposed to steal it; they’re supposed to fairly compensate. Furthermore it’s supposed to be for the public good. You can’t always work around every old curmudgeon. Here they’re crossing the necessity thing that used to be implied and, unfortunately, should have been made explicit.

[@markgoggin2014]

Eminent domain and school sports should never ever mix

[@EnthalpyAndEntropy]

Well, it is Texas and football. Everyone knows that Texans and football are quite fond of one another.

[@tinkthestrange]

@@EnthalpyAndEntropymy town built a new football stadium, then tried to convince private businesses to buy the old one. Nobody wanted it. Last I heard they were still complaining about the budget for the new stadium and having to keep up the old one they literally refuse to use. Seems to me they didn’t actually need a new stadium.

[@LifeEnemy]

​@@EnthalpyAndEntropy Texas is supposed to be one of those 'free' states though :P

[@tedkaczynskiamericanhero3916]

​@@LifeEnemyFound the radical that thinks it's acceptable to kill a newborn baby.

[@jeremydale4548]

Eminent Domain shouldn’t even be LEGAL for ANYONE but the government itself. PERIOD.

[@OzarksGypsy]

The worst part is that the school already owns 3 empty lots directly across the street from the new stadium and this mans house. These lots are 2-3 times large than the mans property that they are going to steal.

[@kenvalentine5341]

We had an interesting situation in the Chicago suburbs a few years back--a school district wanted to build a new high school and made a low-ball offer on an undeveloped plot of land as the site for the school. The property owners countered with a higher asking price and the school district immediately went to eminent domain to acquire the land. When the eminent domain suit went to trial, the judge set the fair-market value considerably higher than the owner's counter-offer. The school district tried to back out, but the judge ordered the district to buy the plot at the valuation he had determined. After unsuccessful appeals the school district ended up being forced to buy the plot fur MUCH more than they had hoped to pay. Ironically, the high school ended being built elsewhere because the district had to sell the newly-acquired property to avoid severe budget problems.

[@qazwiz]

Just one happy *"eminent domain"* ending out of millions of sad ones

[@Steve-mk6rq]

That sounds just like Chi-congo. A lawless third world country.

[@gregjames3001]

BwaaaaaHaaaaHaaaHaaaHaaa , , , LMAO LOLs

[@brucedagel3186]

Sometimes the magic works.

[@KiwiCatherineJemma]

"Eminent Domain" (in some other countries, called by other names such as "Compulsory Acquisition" or "Resumed") I have always believed that in order to stop these land seizures happening willy-nilly and unnecessarily, I reckon the payout should be at least 3 times an independent market value, and possibly 5 times or 10 times "fair market value". "Market values" are based on such things as land area, and the condition of external walls and a roof etc, but does NOT place a value on many "intangible" factors such as especially when old people are in a house they have lived in for over 50 years, and the owner literally dies, soon afterwards, partly because of the stress of having their home of decades seized out from under them...

[@TheQuickSilver101]

My great uncle owned a large portion of the side of a mountain. He built his house on it, then he built a hotel on it. Towards the end of his life when he was in his 90s and most of his money was gone the government swooped in and declared they were taking a large portion of his land with eminent domain. He didn't have the money to fight it and he watched the hotel he built with his own hands be demolished. He had kept shockingly active and healthy for a man his age until then. After that he gave up. He was dead within a year. Any government organization using eminent domain for something as trivial as a parking lot should be forced to prove that they need the land in front of a judge at the very least. It sure as hell shouldn't be as easy as it is now

[@Sever3dHead]

that is the nature of the government. the courts are part of the government as well. the only difference between mafia and govt is scale.

[@InlineDownhillVancouver]

I'm sorry to hear that; that is a tragedy and travesty.

[@gasad01374]

Eminent domain issues should ALWAYS have to go through a jury trial before being allowed to go forwards. On top of that, the government should give at minimum 3x the value of the house AND the property that it is on.

[@mikepalmer1971]

But people will still continue to support bigger and bigger government. They will vote and thump their chest and say how great their government is.

[@Jb-uy5zx]

@@mikepalmer1971It’s bizarre isn’t it? I mention to people how we are taxed on every single thing we do and how ridiculous that is and no one bats an eye, they act like it’s normal. It isn’t.

[@arinerm1331]

The **school board** approved the Eminent Domain claim on the property to benefit the **school board.** Am I the only one who sees a problem with that? May I slap an Eminent Domain claim on that house by the lake with a pier for a back porch? I'd love to live there, but buying it would cost too much.

[@SmallSpoonBrigade]

They approved the school board attorneys to go to court to get the order. This could potentially still fail, but it's rather ridiculous that they didn't think about this earlier, this is not a particularly big town, so why are they trying to seize land without doing any planning for it ahead of time?

[@My-Pal-Hal]

If a school board can use eminent domain. Maybe they should try using Qualified Immunity 😂 ... seems about right

[@arinerm1331]

@@My-Pal-Hal Or, why not go straight to civil asset forfeiture, right?

[@My-Pal-Hal]

@@arinerm1331 I thought of that. But that might include MATH 🤣

[@My-Pal-Hal]

@@arinerm1331 Yeah, I didn't do well with math. I kept missing class because there wasn't enough Parking. I hear they're working on that though 😂 🤣 😂 ... now that's funny

[@JamesPerk-h3n]

Most property owners would agree that too often, using eminent domain is an abuse of power by local, state and federal agencies. Too often, it's not for the 'benefit of all', it's a backdoor tool to gain property for private developers. They work in conjunction with local officials who want to bring 'development' to the area. Most of the people who live there moved there to get away from 'development'. I'm sure that local officials get a boost to their wallet.

[@ThePzrLdr]

As was told to my by two business owners the local Building Inspector has to be paid under the table for building permits.

[@jerryinmon2731]

in case youdidn't know this the Supreme Court has ruled that doing this very thing is constitutional so it's usually very transparent what is happening.

[@JamesPerk-h3n]

@@kimwoodhouse7891 It never makes it right.

[@JamesPerk-h3n]

@@jerryinmon2731 It's a ruling I disagree with. Sometimes it happens that they need the property for the 'benefit of all', like a roadway or something like that. I don't think a parking lot for a highschool football stadium qualifies for that.

[@JamesPerk-h3n]

@@ThePzrLdr If you hardball them about selling property, you'll be hounded by building inspectors and citya and county officials, such as tax assessors, trying to drive you to the point that you're willing to sell.

[@TheCaptainmojo1973]

90% of people not on that school board realize this is an abuse of eminent domain. Very sad. Every school board member should be remembered come election time.

[@tazz1669]

Yes and people should try and get on the board and use the same power to force the old board from their homes. Not so nice when the boot is on the other foot

[@tvc1848]

There was a public election to do the project and it passed. At least 50+% of the people in that school district and likely many more, voted for the project and the funds to do it.

[@TheCaptainmojo1973]

@@tvc1848 I don’t believe those people knew at the time of the vote to which your referencing that it would mean abusing eminent domain to take away someone’s 115+ year familial property.

[@anon_y_mousse]

@@TheCaptainmojo1973 The people often have no clue when it comes to votes like this. Ask them to vote on a tax raise and they'll vote yes 99 times out of 100 because the propaganda is always believed. Ask them to approve a project of any kind for any reason and they'll vote yes because they don't know the truth and don't care. Most people don't think of anything outside their own little bubble and frequently assume it doesn't exist. Humanity is doomed as a species if it doesn't wise up.

[@angelatheriault8855]

They better get a lawyer because I guarantee it’s a lowball offer. My aunt had a house on ten acres in the country and the city grew larger and larger until the area was eventually overtaken with neighborhoods and businesses. Then the city wanted her property for an overpass. They offered her $110,000 for a four bedroom house and ten acres inside the city limits!

[@edwardlangdon9256]

Property value for this home just went from residential to commercial use. Steve is correct it will not be accessed at the real value or a value that the man couldn’t refuse. Eminent domain has gotten way out of hand.

[@phlodel]

I'd be interested to find out if the the price to be paid under imminent domain is significantly less than the previous offer to buy.

[@dreamart3395]

Commercial land typically sells for more than residential land.

[@harrygordon]

Our whole system of government has gotten out of hand.

[@bosshog8844]

wtf?

[@analyticalhabitrails9857]

Oh well.

[@idristaylor5093]

Breaking ground prior to having everything you need amounts to extortion.

[@SmallSpoonBrigade]

Not to mention that unless this house is in the middle of where they want the parking lot, I see no reason why they couldn't just as easily just build a fence around the lot and buy it later if the kids are willing to sell it. If it is in the middle of the parking lot, then, they should have been working something out years ago.

[@ViroMad]

Its shady but gives them more justification(in their point of view) for the taking of the land... "well we already spent all this cash on developing this land so if we don't get that parking lot its a waste of the public's money."

[@davidlewis5312]

I think finding out the name of this high school should be fun let's fill the stadium with people calling the kids thieves

[@MJCLAXDEN]

It's intended to establish the argument in court, but "We've already spent $XX million. The Court should approve this eminent domain... yada, yada, yada, lobster bisque."

[@Sever3dHead]

that is the government for you. everything they do is some form of extortion.

[@ajosepi1976]

When I was young there were about a dozen houses where a road was going to go. They dropped the tax value of the houses to 1/4 of what they were the year before they tried to buy them, and when no one sold, they came in with "eminent domain" and took them all for less than the lower tax value. It was about the most disgusting thing I could think the government could ever to at the time. Now I am older I realize that was just scratching the surface.

[@rogerszmodis]

Roads and things of that nature are what what it’s meant for. It was used properly there.

[@dentside78]

@@rogerszmodis not if they artificially lowered the market value to save a pile of money. They have to pay fmv, if that case is true, it was a scam.

[@Fuckyoutubecensorship1]

​@@dentside78I agree

[@orppranator5230]

@@rogerszmodis No. They didn’t pay the owners enough money, therefore it is not a proper use of eminent domain.

[@rogerszmodis]

@@orppranator5230 if you trust missing details from some random guy on the internet which he’s recalling from when he was ”young”

[@LW97672]

I saw the caption and immediately knew you were speaking of the man in the Aldine district of Houston. So sad. The family knew this was coming but didn’t realize it would be before their father passed away to see it. It is literally next to the parking lot now. I have NEVER seen that parking lot full. Not sure why they feel the need to build a new stadium. It’s always about the money, no matter who gets trampled during the process. It’s pronounced All-deen. Thanks for the great information.

[@richardburke6902]

Steve. I’ve been watching your channel for years and always enjoy your stories. But this one, for first time, brought a tear to my eye. A storyteller you are. I gotta read more of your books.

[@jsteifel]

I kept reading about this same thing years ago in Piscataway NJ. They wanted a woman's home for a parking lot for the library. They took it after a court fight, and never used it.. Then one of the politicians bought it, and held onto it for a short time and sold it. So she lost her home for no reason. There should be a penalty paid by the people who did that to her for their misuse of Eminent domain.

[@SonsOfLorgar]

Imo, If the project the Eminent domain is claimed for isn't initiated as in planning permits and financing filed and project proceding accordingly within 90 days of the court decision, or, if it's canceled, two things should happen automatically and immediately on the 91st day. 1) The property deed(s) should default back to the original owners as is and the original property owners keep the payment of the ED order as damages for government overreach and abuse of powers. 2) The public servants/officials responsible for the decision to invoke Eminent Domain becomes suspended from office without pay and subject to criminal investigations of corruption, theft under colour of office and subject to impeachement proceedings immediately pending the corruption and perfidy investigation.

[@rogde5985]

Two words we all hate would apply “qualified immunity “

[@jsteifel]

@@RhizometricReality how, there is nothing that does that in the law. this occurred in the early 2000s. Even if laws were passed, they didn't exist at the time. you can't take the law into your own hands, much as we would all like to make a** holes pay for their deeds.

[@RhizometricReality]

@@rogde5985 thats only for the law. That doesn't protect them from, say, a termite infestation that damages their property value of their personal home.

[@shag139]

Eminent domain should automatically require a min 3x over FMV. It’s ridiculous the govt can say we want this land and here is our offer, you reject it, and instead of increasing the offer like a private entity normally would have to, they just say too bad we’re gonna take it for this price which is likely below FMV in the first place.

[@freethebirds3578]

I don't know if it's true, but I've heard/read of governments condemning property so the government can use it. I certainly believe it.

[@streetcop157]

Retired police and former mayor… I saw several administrations trying to push projects and they all started by making and offer and immediately saying imminent domain. This always got everyone mad…at the end of my career they needed a piece of my land for a sewer project. They actually offered me nothing. Wanted me to sign an easement. My house was built on a double lot and the easement would make the second lot unbuildable. I refused and they immediately threatened me with imminent domain. The conversation went south in a hurry. Long story short they looked into what the cost of the litigation and the cost of the property was going to be and decided there was another way.

[@deansapp4635]

Good for you and thank you for your service, Officer

[@EnthalpyAndEntropy]

Another way like pay a fair price or go around?

[@streetcop157]

@@EnthalpyAndEntropy their approach ticked me off because they assumed because I was a city employee I would just let them do it. At the time I was being forced to retire so I was already in litigation with them.

[@gotham61]

Eminent domain. Imminent would mean something different

[@EnthalpyAndEntropy]

@@streetcop157 are you sure? I would lol if it was people trying to stick it to you for being a cop. You definitely did some dirt. The only question is how much and how much suffering do you deserve. 😉

[@AaronCook83]

People SHOULD hang onto their properties and force lawsuits. Stop making plans for other people's property. If there is truly NO alternative, and perhaps the need is actually critical, THEN you have these proceedings.

[@tvc1848]

If the law allows it, a lawsuit isn’t going to work.

[@alastor8091]

Nah. If you NEED this piece of property for whatever critical nonsense, shoulda planned better.

[@KAnneMeinel]

The city near where I live took 3 of my brother's houses that he used as rentals with eminent domain. They said they were going to widen the street. They never did, but he didn't get the price they agreed to either. They were thieves, the city attorney didn't like my brothers, and he screwed him over big time.

[@richardgrantsmith8050]

does anybody see a problem with spending $15 million for a high school football field in a rather small town? Stealing a person's home is bad enough; wasting tax money is worse. Did the school board put this up for a referendum to see if the taxpayers would sanction such a waste? When I lived in Ohio, such referendums were commonly rejected by the voters. Now, in Pennsylvania, the school boards can tax and spend without limitation.

[@rodshoaf]

Not true.. Dublin Coffman had a HUGE stadium built at tax payer expense

[@TxStang]

Here in Texas where I moved to they believe football is bigger than God Almighty , they live , breathe , and worship High School football and it's coaches . I am sure that town is the same way as i have seen most of these small towns building outlandish football stadiums for High Schools with barely enough players to form a team .

[@richardgrantsmith8050]

@@rodshoaf you give one example. Where I lived it was not unusual for levies to be voted down. As a consequence many school boards asked for less to increase the chances of approval.

[@rodshoaf]

@@richardgrantsmith8050 Want 2 more? Worthington Kilbourne, Westerville Central... All in the same period of about 10 years

[@rodshoaf]

I'm not disagreeing that levies get voted down.. but they also pass on the regular as well. Many times they use a "Special Election" held in the spring or even in the summer... When the average Joe voter isn't even aware there is a ballot measure being voted on.

[@ScottinWV-bg2ij]

Make a deal where they swap one of the school board member's houses for it, but don't state which member until it's signed. See if the members would still think it was fair.

[@Fuckyoutubecensorship1]

I agree

[@leyrua]

I like this solution. It would force them to THINK, since what they are about to do to him is going to happen to one of them too.

[@leyrua]

Tell them that you are going to convert it into a retirement home (for one person). 😉

[@follyfoxy707]

Every time he gives more information, it makes the situation even worse. School board got their heads somewhere the sun don't shine.

[@jeanetteshawredden5643]

CITIZENS VOTED & APPROVED IT

[@a_mustache_of_great_repute]

​@jeanetteshawredden5643 yes. Citizens voted for SOMEONE ELSE'S property to be seized. On a very rare occasion what is right is also what is legal. This however, is not one of those excessively rare instances

[@ericchristensen5385]

I had a similar situation a few years back. I lived for a time at a house in Greencastle Indiana when I was a kid. We moved out in 84. A few years back we went through town and I struck up a conversation with the current owner. He invited me in and let me look around. It was so surreal being in that house 33 years later!

[@hsimpson7267]

This is insane. I'm sure the school could easily set up a shuttle bus for the games and even use an existing school site. Like a 0 cost, no legal fees, property, and they got the buses already.

[@MarcoS-yp9qf]

Who gave the school board authority to use eminent domain? Shouldn't they be focused on books and lunch menu's?

[@graysonwagner1855]

Reason in their eyes, new stadium and adjacent property improves the area. LOL

[@DaveBigDawg]

They are a government entity

[@TheMegalusDoomslayer]

Sports are considered education in this country.

[@EnthalpyAndEntropy]

@@TheMegalusDoomslayerthey can be educational. Teamwork and stuff, ya know? Of course shooting sports are even better and they’ve completely removed those.

[@ElrohirGuitar]

Football in Texas is the most important thing in the world after guns.

[@scotthannan8669]

I find it interesting that they begin construction of this football stadium before owning the property. It almost implies that they were negotiating in bad faith with the property owner because they knew they had eminent domain to fall back on.

[@jeanetteshawredden5643]

The citizens of the town VOTED and approved tge stadium sports plex. The town is a suburb of Houston - not out in the country.

[@radfordra]

They paved paradise to put up a parking lot

[@andrews6013]

I came here looking for this

[@francisseidel8014]

I just deleted my identical comment.

[@MalissaThomas]

The song that comes from is, Big Yellow Taxi

[@amicaaranearum]

@@andrews6013 Steve quoted it in the video.

[@Kelters]

Made me think of the Joni Mitchell song when you started the story. Absolutely right on. There is no way bureaucracy is ever going to take into account what the place is worth to its current owner. They will price it according to a real estate valuation. Different thing altogether. Apples and oranges, as you like to say.

[@Dave-ty2qp]

It was with great pride that I got to take my grandchildren on a trip to Pinson Alabama to show them the house that Grampa built, and raised 11 children. The beauty of the house just down from the church where their ancestors were buried was still apparant, and the stories I told them under the old growth forrest trees there about their family history will remain with them forever. The house is still in the family, but replaced about a decade ago, but the majisty is still there. I don't believe that a parking lot would be reason enough to change that.

[@rogerszmodis]

The idea that highschool football needs a stadium is the most ridiculous part of this. I can’t even imagine having no life to the point where watching 15 year olds play football poorly seems like viable entertainment. So I have no idea how they could even partially fill a stadium for that shit.

[@SmallSpoonBrigade]

Around here, the city owns a stadium that's about to be redone. But, it's the stadium for basically all the football teams in the entire city. The local schools have fields with no grandstands typically and just a field with a track and the bare minimum to play. I'm not sure how a town of only 16,000 can justify having a stadium for probably only one or two teams.

[@chrisfreemesser5707]

Remember we're talking about Texas...high school football is apparently a BIG deal down there

[@danielseelye6005]

I looked up Aldine, Texas. They did a millage in 2015 to upgrade the High School saying they're "15% over capacity" as a suburb of Houston. Apparently, the school system is 182nd of 187 Houston school districts in education standards, but made it to State finals in football repeatedly so, they have their priorities.

[@tactileslut]

Did you notice the numbers? It's sized to fit about two thirds of the town's population. Holy herds, Batman. Let's *ALL* go see Johnny on the field after school.

[@jfruser]

I am not a fan of public schooling, public schooling administrations, and power used by public schools against their neighbors. No public schools, no public school use of eminent domain. On another note, you can't imagine watching 15YO boys playing football because YOU have no life. Or community ties or kids, I suspect, thus making yourself a loser in The Big Darwinian Game of Life. Enjoy your time in a nursing home being "cared for" by surly Hatian employees without any family to see that you are well-treated. Frankly, HS sports (and other youth sports) are the only sports worth watching. Very few entitled millionaires posing as victims and shyster owners bilking the locals out of their money,

[@terrancecoard388]

A city I lived in just had to put a freeway through my living room back in 1989. It was a condo that I had no particular bond with so I made out like a bandit. The people that I bought it from are probably still weeping. Where I live now we get our water from an old spring...It would take a lot of money followed by a lot of tears to get me to give up this property. It is my wife's childhood home and neither of us are bonded to an old schoolhouse that was turned into a home in 1948 but we sure love the water. We have both traveled and tasted water throughout the country including the much talked about NYC...but nothing compares to this cold, clean, crystal clear gravity fed spring water. I do empathize with the man being forced to give up his home....for a parking lot!

[@PhrontDoor]

What is offensive isn't that they want to use the property for the high school.. but that it's for a parking lot... And worse yet, is that they want it for a SPORTS parking-lot - not student, not teacher, not academic.. but basically for glorified cos-play.

[@danielseelye6005]

Look up Aldine, Texas. They're among the 5 worst districts in Houston, yet seem to keep getting their football team into post season play, even up to State Finals repeatedly.

[@briangarrow448]

You need to remember that we are talking about football in Texas- the only state that considers a game to be equal to a religion.

[@FighteroftheNightman]

​@@briangarrow448 completely irrelevant

[@briangarrow448]

@@FighteroftheNightman Not it you are from Texas.

[@jfruser]

Are you sure what "cos-play" is? Those kiddos are actually Doing the Thing and they Are the Thing. That is, actual players playing an actual sport.

[@jaredkennedy6576]

I went through New London a year ago, and that old neighborhood just looks like a disaster area. Streets and sidewalks through overgrown lots, debris, people dump garbage and furniture up there now. And Phizer isn't even there anymore.

[@AzraelThanatos]

With this one, if it's a 1905 home, there's a chance that the house might get other protections if he goes to the right groups. In large chunks of the US that's enough to be historic, which limits what can be done with it

[@Yenadar]

My wife's family has had 2 different farms taken from them by eminent domain. The first was a 300 acre farm that the school board took from them for the new high school, that was never built. The property has remained abandoned ever since (21 years). The other was 9 years later in a different part of the state, the local indian tribe made a water rights claim on a stream, and the state took 20 acres from them to give to the tribe.

[@Steevo69]

Sounds like a Montana story. We get shit like that all the time.

[@MarkovianMan]

That first farm should have reverted back to your wife's family (without requiring repayment of whatever they may have received for it). In the second case, I'm conflicted, because the Indians were on the land first and it was stolen from them originally. But that wasn't the fault of your wife's family. So that's why I'm conflicted.

[@DeathlordSlavik]

@@MarkovianMan The indians lost that land by right of conquest as such they no longer have a claim to it.

[@louisxiiii]

@@DeathlordSlavik Right of Conquest? Where is that in the Constitution? Does that mean that you think the protesters in Portland now own the downtown?

[@drewschumann1]

Took, or paid for?

[@nhgsmithnhgsmith1312]

I grew up in Portsmouth, NH and as a kid there was a new Holiday Inn built and almost in the middle edge of their parking lot was a big old house. They had to wait for the owner to pass before they could finish off completing their parking lot. Texas should respect property owners rights in this case.

[@drunkbillygoat]

1905? I'd see if that house can be a historical heritage home.

[@ICRangerT]

was thinking the same thing

[@rogerszmodis]

Just being old isn’t good enough. Is it an important building? Probably not.

[@terryarmbruster9719]

No. Heritage homes aren't about how old place is but rather is there a historical link to it such as was home of some famous person important to that local culture. Lol also 1905 is not an old home at all as far as historical goes especially if its Chicago and east. Also if desigmated as such then all things have to be restoration grade repairs and renovations. Other words have to use original materials and if can't then as close as possible except safety reasons only. I use to do heritage restoration and renovation. Furthermore most places if its a heritage won't let of be for residential purposes. Itll s thee be made into a business house or museum like or just stand there for views.

[@SmallSpoonBrigade]

@@rogerszmodis This is true, but at that age these buildings often times are a demonstration of the architecture of the time they were built in. That doesn't automatically guarantee that they need to be preserved, but often times there aren't many left and fewer over time.

[@johnmichaelkarma]

What ya can see of house on local news stories show what seems to be a very nothing special building on an very overgrown unkempt 1 acre lot. He is surrounded by the stadium,2 baseball diamonds and a huge parking lot.

[@bytoadynolastname6149]

"It is our practice to offer fair compensation, before eminent domain procedures." So... their practice is to 'politely' ask for something before stealing it if you refuse. What a wonderful statement that tells you exactly what their mindset is.

[@LadyViolet1]

I've long talked about how parking lots waste so much of the land with empty space where we could have housing instead. The school board: "let's actively demolish someone's home for a parking lot."

[@Rashnak66]

The Kelo decision was an abonimation, expanding emminent domain for private business interests.

[@gorkyd7912]

It's always going to be next to impossible to discern between private business interests, private personal interests, and public interest. For instance, when Indian Affairs eminent domain'ed land from the tribes (some other procedure obviously, same concept) they turned it into a lead mine (private interest). The lead mine was very profitable, brought wealth the whole area (public interest?). The lead production from the mine was crucial for munitions used to win WW2 (global interest?) But then the minds were shut down and the tailings etc poisoned the water. So I'm generally a pretty libertarian guy but we have to put a balance somewhere. For instance, we will never ever be able to build a high speed rail system in the US without some degree of eminent domain. If people can set their own price based on their feelings or whatever, just because the public is paying, the cost of every transportation project will be astronomical. And just because the rail is private-run doesn't mean it's not in the public interest. All of our railroads are private run.

[@tvc1848]

This has nothing to do with Keto though. Also, when Keto came out, Texas changed their Constitution to forbid private property benefits. It has to be for a government use.

[@douglascooke1926]

I was going to quote Joni Mitchell, but you did it for me. And I don't believe a new football stadium and parking lot are a "need".

[@edwardlangdon9256]

Especially since they already have one.

[@TheWhisperTexan]

I was already hearing the song in my head.

[@2lefThumbs]

I went and watched a Big Yellow Taxi video before clicking on this tbh. If Steve hadn't quoted it in the video I, like you, would have made a comment quoting it👍👍

[@surfinbird1238]

it's a shame the importance of the goverment's intended use for the land and the importance of the land to the owner are not considerations in eminent domain. a balancing of interests might take the barb out a lot of these cases. another great show, steve! love your show

[@krustycorvette1796]

Tarahumara's, Norman, OK. The city took it upon themselves to do a parking study at the restaurant to determine how much sales tax they were losing because the popular restaurant had limited parking. They found out they were losing a significant amount. So they ED'd a few properties with homes that were adjacent, turned it into a parking lot and lease it to the restaurant.

[@bernardsummers9050]

As soon as you started talking about this situation, the song "Big Yellow Taxi" started to play itself out in my mind.

[@nelskrogh3238]

"They paved paradise and put up a parking lot"

[@thefrustratedtheologian6238]

and I thought of "The Hitchhiker's guide . . . "

[@jess_o]

I hope the E.D. plea is rejected on the basis of not providing a benefit for the community commensurate with the burden on the man, if they really aren't filling up that stadium. But it probably won't be.

[@jeanetteshawredden5643]

The citizens of Aldine VOTED & APPROVED this $50M football sports plex referendum. It is a suburb of Houston.

[@stillraven9415]

Years ago they stold an 80 year old woman home in Phoenix AZ. For a stadium. She had lived there ALL her life. They were nice enough to give her enough money for her down town home to pay for a nursing home for a few years.🤬🤬🤬

[@leyrua]

They couldn't have waited just a few more years? Geez. 🤬

[@wickedbird1538]

😮😮My Grandfather lost his 60 year old home in Denton Texas for a city street about 30 years ago. They gave him a decent amount for his little house but not enough to buy another house. My Aunt took him in and put him in her garage apartment for the rest of his life.

[@jeanetteshawredden5643]

THAT is the appalling problem with Eminent domain!!! They NEVER give the owner enough money to purchase another home OF EQUAL VALUE ON today's market They are thieves because of this.

[@sabinrawr]

Steve said that since the parking lot can't be built unless the home is torn down, I guess that makes the property REALLY valuable! But we can't start doing that or everyone will try to hang on to their property, etc. Can't we? If people are being literally forced from their generational family home for the convenience ("need") of someone else, that should absolutely be costly! In other videos, Steve talks a lot about "treble damages". Well, why don't we start with treble value of the property in a favorable market? When you legalize interfering with people's rights, there ought to be a heavy cost to that. These people aren't just being forced to move, they're largely upending their lives. What the government usually considered "fair compensation" is akin to a thief getting convicted of stealing the Mona Lisa, but the restitution is just the cost of the canvas, wood, and paint. Ridiculous.

[@anon_y_mousse]

If only the people would rise up and revolt. But they are sheep and things will only get worse before the ultimate collapse.

[@dougbotimer8005]

Gentrification is happening everywhere. Developers want to maximize the value, to themselves, of whatever project they undertake or property they own. Too often takes the form of acquiring adjacent property by whatever means.

[@lanmarknetworking3034]

"So what do we need? Besides a miracle?" "Guns. Lots of guns..."

[@EnthalpyAndEntropy]

Yep, no need for a stadium if there’s nobody left alive to occupy it. As a chemical engineer I guarantee you they wouldn’t dare try to take my land for something I didn’t approve of.

[@emjay2045]

Brains…. Lots of brains

[@prunabluepepper]

The problem is that they don't need to check if what they want is the best option. They could easily build a multi-story parking garage instead of a parking lot. Although that might be more expensive, but it is a useful option.

[@Kurgosh1]

They could even invest in public transit. Except it's Texas, and the bubbas would likely start killing people if you asked them to ride a bus.

[@qgc3426]

A community of 16k needs a $50M stadium? No way. They already broke ground. Tells you the outcome in the courts already. Follow the money. People have been paid off. This is also not new. Back the in early 2000s in the NE a property owner suffered through this. Private speculator said a hotel would bring in tax revenue so that was beneficial for the local govt. eventually the Supreme Court agreed. This is not what eminent domain was intended for.

[@josephpk4878]

I can't believe that they actually paved paradise to put up a parking lot. It's so literal.

[@kevinbyrne4538]

Eminent domain applies to the construction of highways and other facilities that are intended for public use. A stadium is not intended for use by the general public: you require a ticket for admission and you can't enter it at will. It's a government-owned business.

[@tvc1848]

Better read the Supreme Court case that says eminent domain can be used for private property as long as there is a public benefit which could be simply increasing the tax base. It is one of the worst decisions in my opinion but it is the prevailing case law.

[@Z-Ack]

Yep.. i drive past the house my mother passed away in almost every day.. i moved out and bought a house close by to take care of my parents in their old age but as soon as i moved out my mother was told she had stage 3 lung cancer and its already moved in her bones. She passed 2 weeks aftet the news. My father couldnt handle staying in that house so he sold it and ended up moving about 65 miles from where i live.. so much for caring for them in their old age.. now i get that image of my mother taking her last breath in that room.. and the sadness that followed. That was over 16 years ago but still feels like it was last month.. still hear her voice in my head and cant sleep without seeing her.. life.. you spend your entire life saving up for that day you can retire and not have to work again. But by that point your everything hurts to do anything. And you get told youve got terminal cancer when youve lived the healthiest lifestyle for your entire life.. so you never get your day of rest until youre laid to rest. Miss her so damn much.. she was the glue to the family.. when she left that glue dried up and everybody went their own wats.. aint talked to my father in 13 years.. i dont know if hes alive or dead.. but is better that way i guess.. one of us will find out when the other passes eventually..

[@nasrhussain9126]

You should be talking to your father, would you like it if your child doesn't talk to you?

[@Unsensitive]

Love the UP. Mom is from Michigan and i used to visit the UP every year as a child. Plan to visit the keweenwa region, this fall. Maybe one day i can live there.

[@ferebeefamily]

Thank you Steve.

[@sappy4happy448]

Very nice Steve - inserting that Joni Mitchell lyric. How fitting. Well done!

[@boikatsapiens499]

Ben drooping on the Hillsborough book over The Steve's right shoulder.

[@annelarrybrunelle3570]

They can make do with their 1979 stadium. Upgrade it if needful, and save some money. A community of 16,000 doesn't likely need a stadium to hold 10,000, even in Texas.

[@jmd1743]

It's probably corruption which is why they want that guys house.

[@jeanetteshawredden5643]

It is a suburb of Houston, not a remote farm village. Residents of the town VOTED & approved tge sports plex

[@SetitesTechAdventures]

I think for me the problem with eminent domain is that I assume they can only pay you market value. If I had to give up my property I'd want well above market value because I need to be compensated for the time and labor it would take me to recreate what I have elsewhere or buy something with the work already done. I understand you can't quantify the emotional attachment but even ignoring that they can't ensure you have a similar setup. I must have zoned out during the part of the video all the early comments are talking about.

[@EnthalpyAndEntropy]

Eminent domain is a tricky one if they, for example, want the trees for like a rest area on an interstate. My great grandpa wanted 2x what a property was worth when some g-men tried to lowball him. Then they threatened eminent domain. He knew they’d have to cut down the centuries old oak trees to do it. When they came back and said they were ok with 2x great grandpa doubled it to 4x and they took it. Warms my heart every time I drive by… the exact opposite feeling I get driving by farmland stolen from my grandparents only a few percent of which was ever used for wildlife preserve. Some a-holes farm the bulk of it. If crop insurance wasn’t a thing they might have a statistically suspicious number of fires.

[@MarkovianMan]

Agreed. Perhaps if eminent domain is activated then the payment should be a multiple of market value... like 3x market value (market value to be determined by a disinterested third party).

[@SonsOfLorgar]

​@@MarkovianManand if the property isn't used in full as claimed, the whole claim should be automatically voided as spurious and fraudulent, reverting back to the original owners with the same original owners entitled to keep the money of the ED verdict as damage compensation for distress.

[@EnthalpyAndEntropy]

@@MarkovianMan it should be like for like replacement. Give me a pile of cash even though there’s nothing comparable on the market and it’s not cool.

[@davewoodmancy5124]

I grew up in Central Illinois and now live in Dallas area. More than 800 miles separate the two cities. I went back home a month ago and went past the house I grew up in. It brought back so many memories that are nearly impossible to describe. Good memories and bad memories

[@sharond2814]

I wonder if the local community had a say in this school board spending all this money on a "new" high school football stadium?

[@jeanetteshawredden5643]

It would have been approved by voters. This is a suburb of Houston.

[@ShadowC14]

What annoys me is eminent domain is suppose to exist for a greater good and directly in public interest. It's not suppose to be a shortcut to property simply bc its wanted and especially not for private benefit. A highway can't exactly go elsewhere, but lets be real a factory can go anywhere else its just the question of cost. And this stands true with a school football stadium and parking lot. I'm gonna assume they didn't pick that site bc they had the space but rather they planned to take the space they wanted, and for what? Entertainment? I fail to understand how any of that falls upon the greater good or public interest, and not simply on short sightedness and poor planning.

[@basillah7650]

It has never been used for public good never used for public land always private owned land the public does not own roads,railways,ect they not put in for the public they put in for businesses and done to benefit business no such thing as public owned school because you pay to send your kids to the school and even have to pay tax for schools if you do not have kids sent there.

[@georgemead6608]

Don't it always seem to go That you don't know what you've got 'til it's gone They paved paradise, put up a parking lot

[@Wrangzilla]

Jack Johnson?

[@surlyogre1476]

_Big Yellow Taxi_ 🚖

[@surlyogre1476]

🚕Ooops... Steve beat us to it.

[@Bobs-Wrigles5555]

@@Wrangzilla You must be young, try the original by Joni Mitchell 1973

[@georgemead6608]

@@surlyogre1476 The version I remember was by Joni Mitchel but there are others.

[@Bobs-Wrigles5555]

Ben hiding in his sniper spot, in the dark on top of the Hillsborough book, Steve's RHS

[@christhomason3936]

Mr Steve, where will it end! Can't believe this kinda stuff happens! What can the little people do against this kind of craziness! Love Your Common Sense Channel. Chris and Rick From Chicago ♥️

[@CuriousEarthMan]

edit: maybe I'm looking at an old map iteration of the previous stadium. 0riginal message: Mr. Lehto, have you google-mapped the W.W. Thorne stadium in Aldine? There is about as much vacant land quasi-adjacent (across the street and also to the south) as the stadium and parking lots sit on themselves. The vacant land to the south also appears to already belong to the school complex, so no expenditures to acquire might be necessary. Also, as someone below said, they could possibly build a partial-area parking deck, though more expensive than seizing Mr. Upchurch's house. Further, they seem to have already built the stadium, so perhaps the Upchurch's can use evidence of unused extant parking to fight their case. Thanks for your videos!

[@leofredette19]

Years back LA County took the property of the only furniture maker left in the County, claiming they need to build an Animal Service Center ( dog pound ect ). But 3 months after they seized the property ( for just over $ 2,000.000.00 ). The County Supervisors decided there was no need & they just happened to have a buyer for that property. LA County made a $ 45,000,000.00 profit ( how much was gifted to the commissioners is unknown ). Location Location Location

[@jesstreloar7706]

Seattle did the same thing. Seized lots along the street. After possession it was determined that the project was financially unfeasible and was dropped. They kept all the property even after one of the store owners offered to buy back his old lot for the same price.

[@ARoyalLyon]

Surprised a mob hasn't descended on a County Supervisor's meeting. This is why entering County buildings is like checking into a Supermax Prison as a visitor!

[@jeanetteshawredden5643]

That's criminal and should be against the law

[@Goatcha_M]

When I have dreams that include my house its always the house I grew up in even though its been 20 years since I lived there.

[@RvnKnight]

There is a way to prevent eminent domain that they can do. The family should apply for a land/letters patent. It'll cost close to $200, but it prevents seizures, leins, and some other stuff.

[@RvnKnight]

@rhamlet5290 it's real. The Texas GLO (General Land Office) has the information on its website. It's a 25 initial application, a good amount of paperwork, 100 for the patent processing, 35 for certified mail (GLO to county, county to whomever), and some miscellaneous filing fees.

[@Tahgtahv]

*The school board voted unanimously to drop the bid after several months of backlash from the community and media*

[@niksand1713]

Thank you for commenting on the song lyrics, first thing that came to mind when I started listening to this situation.

[@wheelsmcdealsace]

you know that family most likely sold the land to the city for the school in the first place back when he had cows and they raised the cost of living on him.

[@Timultuous]

You pronounced Aldine correctly. My question is, was there only ever one offer made on the house? Did they ever increase from that offer? How do you immediately go from a single "no" to immanent domaine? What's so immanent about a parking lot anyway? That was more than one question 🤷‍♂️

[@twl10101]

It's pronounced "All-deen". I grew up in Houston and lived on the north side for almost 50 years. I had friends that went to that school district and it was always pronounced "All-deen".

[@Timultuous]

@@twl10101 that's how he said it.

[@twl10101]

He is saying Al-deen like you would say the Al in Albatross. It is pronounced Awl-deen to put it a better way. @@Timultuous

[@tvc1848]

@@twl10101 That is correct. He said al like pal but it’s all like mall.

[@barryraymond9004]

Eminent domain needs to be 4X market value.

[@davidh9638]

Treble

[@tvc1848]

So you are going to ask the state to pass a law that will require the state to pay a person 3 to 4 times the value? Good luck!

[@barryraymond9004]

@@tvc1848 I didn’t say it was easy, but there should be a hell of a premium on a forced sale

[@rgnestle]

Thank you for the really funny "robot lady" quote at the end. I made me feel better after the information about the terrible thing happening to that family home!

[@bluegrassengineer]

I worked as an engineer for a local government for 22 years. In all that time we used eminent domain only one time. In that case we needed a small section of the property, and the owner could stay in the home. Her greatest concern was for her flower beds. The government paid to have them replanted by a professional. The process took almost three years. In some places governments work very hard to avoid eminent domain. Don't mess with football in Texas.

[@Krzys_D]

bring this to the local news! they'll stop

[@jeanetteshawredden5643]

This is a suburb of Houston. There are more than 10M ppl in the Houston metroplex. The town of Aldine voters approved this sports plex. The owner will lose, BUT HE SHOULD BE GIVEN MORE THAN FAIR MARKET VALUE FOR HIS 105 YR OLD HOME. !!!

[@gotham61]

$50 million for a high school football stadium? That’s insane! Do they also pay their teachers a living wage? BTW, loved the Joni Mitchell quote.

[@jmd1743]

probably not.

[@TheTroutNinja]

10,000 seats for a city with a population of 16,000. Overkill

[@jmd1743]

@@TheTroutNinja It's likely corruption like Olympics.

[@gotham61]

You reach a point where you’re no longer running a school district. It’s really a sports league, with some associated schools.

[@tvc1848]

@@TheTroutNinja It isn’t 16,000, it’s hundreds of thousands. The school district has 62,000 students. I’m not saying that justifies the seizure, but sometimes you just get false information. Aldine it’s not even a city. Is a census area or a community that is part of the greater Houston area which is 7 million people. The school district shares a name with that small community but the district is actually huge.

[@ritamatthews2942]

They don't even have enough people to fill up the parking lot. Disgusting. People need to stand up for that man

[@tvc1848]

The size is false information. The school district uses the name of the area community which isn’t even a city. The school district has 62,000 students.

[@jamesstrang9483]

Love the U.P. Went to Handcock every summer to visit my father's sister, Kate Tilton. Sweet lady and great cook.

[@richardjames6947]

Well explained, logical and emotional as important life issues are. Thank you.

[@superhawk20002]

"That's what its worth to someone else" makes an interesting point. They should lay off until the old man is ready (or he is gone and the family allows the sale). I can't believe a court would find a parking lot more of a priority than a home owners rights -> whether it be 1 yr or 100 yrs.

[@akshayy91]

Hey Steve, I'm from India and the government here has made it so that if the govt has to take your property, they have to pay 4x the appraised value. Reduces the governments land acquisition as they only take the land when it is absolutely needed and the land owner is less unhappy. Infact some people are happy if the government takes their property as they get paid 4x. This should be implemented in USA too.

[@basillah7650]

should be 1000 times value in the US since got more money than sense there.

[@bronson7130]

City of Grand rapids had a similar problem. They put an island and fence around the house and built the parking lot around it. Later, for the Gerald R Ford Museum, a historic red school house went through a lot of litigation for a parking lot and then it mysteriously burned down one night.

[@arcticfoxstudios2018]

Started watching your channel about a month ago & guessed you were in Michigan. Great story about Hancock from someone who lives on the other side of the bridge. :)

[@Sarafimm2]

Every now and again I'll Google Earth/Map childhood places. It's interesting to "drive" down streets I used to travel and see how they've changed. Look down on old houses, schools, and neighborhoods I used to live in. Memories both good and bad.

[@dawndouglass870]

I was 100% wondering if you would quote that song and you did not disappoint.

[@jonimaricruz1692]

“Cuz we can, that’s why!” Yeah, that’s sounds pretty Texas to me. At first I was getting upset, but then when you said it was Texas, I fully understood. In their minds what they’re doing is erecting (can you “erect” a parking lot?) a place to accommodate the worshippers of Friday night HS football which is just like church only there’s beer.

[@wilfredvanvalkenburgh2874]

My family has had property taken from us 5 times. Well, okay 4 and 1/2 times. The Tennessee Valley Authority TVA is using 40 acres of our most valuable farm land for 3 high tension power lines for the electrical grid. We still own the land, but can't use it, so that has cost us about 1 million dollars, we got $9k. Another time, the City used eminent domain to take 18 acres on the Tennessee River -we got 3 cents on the dollar. Don't believe them when they say they "fairly compensate". That has not been our experience even once.

[@gremlinsports]

This happened to my grandparents in Salt Lake city. Took it to widen state street they widened the street. 20 years later they sold the land to samsclub for 9 million. They gave them 20k.

[@markwybierala4936]

Well said Steve.

[@joeycorbett]

What's really interesting is that this piece of property has been surrounded by the parking lot of the current stadium on three sides since it was built in 1979. Not saying it's right or wrong, just that this battle has been going on for 40 years.

[@waynep343]

Where did the school board get the funds to spend that much on a football stadium . Are they using funds paid to them to educate the students.

[@RideGasGas]

I mentioned before on a previous video regarding eminent domain that I had property taken through this process when I lived back in Virginia. I had two acres and the city wanted to take a 30 foot deep strip across the entire front of my property so they would widen the road to add a turn lane for a new hospital being built nearby. Initially the city offered $0.52 per square foot for the land, but we declined, they can back with $0.72 per square foot, again we declined and said we would take it arbitration if necessary. In the end they paid closer to $1.20 per square foot plus rebuilt my fence and did some other landscaping. Never settle for the first offer and assert your rights as best you can.

[@patriayvida6850]

They paved his paradise to put up a parking lot... gotta love progress.

[@tomk4484]

Why did they build that house there in 1905? They should’ve known it would be a great place to put a parking lot for horseless carriages, next to a big arena used to play a yet to be popularized game by some high schoolers.