This week, the Charlottesville City Council unanimously authorized the city to exercise eminent domain — the government seizure of private property for public use — for two land parcels as part of the planned Barracks and Emmet Streetscape Project.
Charlottesville wants to improve the Barracks Road and Emmet Street intersection by adding new turning lanes, a bike trail that connects to other bike paths in the city and by constructing a pedestrian-friendly median.
While the city successfully acquired right of way and easements from 9 of the 11 property owners impacted by the project, its consultant was unable to reach agreements with Meadowbrook Shopping Center LLC and Greenshire Holdings LLC…