Zimmer: Reaffirm Support For Eminent Domain In Park Negotiations

Mayor Dawn Zimmer is asking the City Council to "reaffirm" if the city cannot come to terms with the owner of a lot that it wants to turn into a park

This step is supposed to lead to "more productive negotiations," Zimmer wrote in a letter to Council members, adding that the threat of eminent domain would make "the actual use of eminent domain unecessary."

The city , but an agreement has not been reached with the owner.

The "parties remain far apart, making it appear that we may be unable to negotiate a mutually agreeable price," Zimmer wrote.

If the city can't acquire the parcels of land to create a park in the southwest, it stands to lose a $3 million open space grant from the county,  The city has until the end of the summer to spend the money.

The parcels in question, a surface parking lot at Harrison and Jackson streets  and an accompanying lot next to it, were appraised by the city. 

The piece of land in question—Lot 12—is across the street from the former . A restaurant is scheduled to open there,

Zimmer called the parking lot between Jackson and Harrison Streets as an "ideal" place for a park, in line with the city's master plan. 

The discussion about eminent domain was a heated one last year, with Fourth Ward Councilman Tim Occhipinti—a member of the—voting in line with Mayor Dawn Zimmer. Sixth Ward Councilwoman Jennifer Giattino—a member of the council majority, usually in line with the mayor—voted against the potential use of eminent domain.