They Paved Paradise and Put Up a Parking Lot

Ten years ago this month, Kelo v. City of New London legalized the use of emminent domain to transfer land from one private owner to another private owner to further economic development. Several states, including Colorado, banned the taking of property for economic development purposes. However, the authorities in Glendale, CO, have apparently found a loophole, and intend to use it to take the property of an Iranian family and hand it over to the developers of a $175 million entertainment complex called Glendale 180.

To give back to the community, we've hired refugees who have fled war-torn nations like Afghanistan, Bosnia and Eritrea, providing jobs for those who otherwise have few skills and don't speak English. Some of our employees have become entrepreneurs themselves, climbing economic ladders of their own.
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The city's decision is particularly galling given that our family has tried to work with Glendale to redevelop the area for years. In addition to our store, we own acres of neighboring land. As far back as 2007, we submitted plans to Glendale to transform our land into an "urban village," complete with shops, condominiums and restaurants.

After years of frustration and dashed hopes, those plans were rejected, thanks to city officials, who originally claimed they wanted to collaborate with us on the development. Now, they've chosen another developer for our land.

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I wonder how many of those people will find employment at Glendale 180?

It's worth noting that ten years after Kelo, the piece of paradise where Susette Kelo made her home isn't even a parking lot. It sets unused. The project for which her home was seized never came to fruition.

In more pleasant news, The United States National Arboretum admission is still free, and these days her old man would probably use Uber, so Joni didn't get the whole story right.