City Invokes Eminent Domain To Claim Stadium Site: WJLA-TV — ABC-7 (Washington DC), 10/26/05

The D.C. government has filed court papers to seize $84 million worth of property in Southeast Washington, the site of a proposed Nationals baseball stadium.

The city has invoked eminent domain in an effort to keep construction of the ballpark on schedule to open in March 2008.

The property owners and their tenants now have 20 days to challenge the move in court and three months to vacate unless a judge declares the seizure unconstitutional.

If the court doesn't block the city's action, property owners can continue to negotiate with the city, but a jury would ultimately decide the sale prices.

City officials tell The Washington Post that they've agreed to buy land from seven owners, who were not named in the court filing.

The city had offered them a total of $13 million, but the final sale price is unknown.

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WJLA: www.wjla.com