Biloxi Tries Property Takeover For Lighthouse Park
By Sue Clark on Jan 18, 2008 in Featured, Opinion 
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Eminent Domain Bid Fails To Pass
The Biloxi City Council, by a three to three tie vote, failed to pass an eminent domain takeover for the Bolton property this past week. The Council, which has already acquired two hurricane damaged properties, wants the Hayes Bolton beachfront land, which they refer to as a junkyard, for a planned lighthouse park. One councilmember was absent, so the vote might have gone either way.
Three councilmembers voted to take over the property, while three others, although wanting the land, wisely voted against it. David Fayard, who voted against the motion, said, “taking land to widen a street or install water lines might be appropriate. I really don’t think a park is a reason to eminent domain a property,” according to a story in the Sun Herald. Tom Wall, who voted for the measure, said, “This is property that’s needed for a city project.” He stated he normally is against eminent domain, but favored it in this case, since the land would be used for city development and the property owners have “given a very unreasonable price.”
An Unreasonable Price?
But the property owners haven’t given “a very unreasonable price.” No one seems to know just what is the price. In the story, the mayor, A.J. Holloway, said he’d unofficially heard the Boltons wanted $4 million for their property. Heard? Unofficial? Just what is going on here? The Council tries to take prime real estate because the mayor heard that Bolton wanted that price? Oh, and by the way, the property is valued at only $2 million, because wetlands run through the center of it.
The city has a $2.5 million Coastal Impact grant to acquire land for the park. So far, they’ve paid $572,000 for the site of the gas station demolished by Hurricane Katrina opposite the lighthouse. An offer of $470,000 was made to the Diocese of Biloxi for an old convent behind the gas station. Now they’ve used up $1 million, so they’ll try anything to get the remainder of the land around the lighthouse.
Wrong Priorities
Perhaps that money would be better spent fixing up the Biloxi Lighthouse in the first place. And of course, who allowed the lighthouse to become part of a highway median in the first place? And to allow the build up of an urban environment rather than leaving it as a green belt for all to enjoy the beauty of a lighthouse.
I am appalled by what the Biloxi City Council is trying to do. From the federal government all the way to the local municipalities, this whole Katrina mess has been handled in a wrong manner. This is only just one small focus on the governmental missteps and I would hope that Biloxi would get its act together. Based on this most recent news out of the south, I don’t have much hope for that.
Biloxi, use the money wisely, to rebuild that beautiful lighthouse, and quit trying to land grab.
Photo Credit: Biloxi Lighthouse by charltonlido on Flickr. Some Rights Reserved
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January 19th, 2008 at 11:57 am
I disagree with your statement RE: Biloxi use the money wisely, to rebuild the beautiful lighthouse, and guit trying to grab land.
The Lighthouse will be restored.
Why do the citizens of Biloxi and the tourist who visit and take photos of the Lighthouse have to put up with a junkyard in the back ground?
January 19th, 2008 at 1:30 pm
Hi Mona,
Unfortunately, that should have been thought of before the city decided to make the area around the lighthouse an urban landscape. I think this is the only lighthouse in the US sitting on a highway median, surrounded by urban sprawl and/or blight.
Anyway, the city is going about it all wrong, in my opinion. Think about it. Would you like your property taken by the government for the sole purpose of people taking photos? And without fair market compensation? Especially since no one at the municipal level has appeared to verify anything regarding the cost.