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Bernardsville Redevelopment Project: Full Steam Ahead!
Last week, the Bernardsville Borough Council adopted a resolution approving a controversial designation of certain commercial properties on Olcott Square as an “area in need of redevelopment” pursuant to the New Jersey Local Redevelopment and Housing Law, N.J.S.A. 40A:12A;1, et seq (“LRHL”). The decision, approved by a 4-2 vote, was controversial because it rejected an... Read More
Delays in Obtaining Permits Leading to Property Foreclosure Not a Regulatory Taking
Federal Court Judge Cheryl Ann Kraus was ‘riding the Circuit’ and decided a regulatory takings case while sitting in the District Court, District of New Jersey captioned James v. Vornlocker. Full opinion here 2022-8-31 Vornlocker. The case was decided on motions for summary judgment, and it appears that Plaintiff admitted most of the facts and... Read More
New York Appellate Court: Make a Strong Case When Arguing for a “Highest and Best Use!”
Earlier this year, the Supreme Court of New York, Appellate Division, reviewed a lower court’s decision that disregarded a property owner’s proposed “highest and best use” to support a valuation claim in a condemnation matter. The primary issue on appeal was whether the lower court erred in finding that the property owner failed to substantiate... Read More
Indiana Supreme Court Vacates Judgment on Due Process Grounds
The Indiana Supreme Court handed a property owner a nice win before the Labor Day Weekend. The short opinion is a quick read and available here. The Gary Housing Authority was engaged in redevelopment for affordable housing and it “strictly followed” the statutory and administrative procedures for acquiring private property. The notice provisions of the... Read More
Maryland Appellate Court: Condemnation Jury Trials are the Status Quo
Earlier this year, the Maryland Court of Special Appeals reviewed a lower court’s decision that prevented a self-represented property owner from having her valuation case heard by a jury. The primary issue on appeal was whether it was legally correct for the lower court to hold the condemnation trial without a jury. The full decision... Read More
Charitable Property Tax Exemption Upheld by Tax Court Despite Zoning Violations
On March 24, 2022, the Tax Court of New Jersey rendered a twenty-five (25) page opinion in Life With Joy, Inc., v. Township of Green (hereafter “Life With Joy”) where the court evaluated whether the subject property was qualified for a charitable exemption to its requirement to pay local property tax. Here, the Hon. Vito... Read More
Taxpayers and Assessors: Chapter 91 Requests MUST Be Sent By Regular AND Certified Mail
A recent tax court opinion by Judge Cimino, J.T.C. clarifies whether the service of a tax assessor’s request for income and expense information (“Chapter 91”) by certified mail only was sufficient to satisfy N.J.S.A. 54:4-34. In short, the answer is no. In this matter, on September 15, 2020, the City of Brigantine’s (“City”) Tax Assessor,... Read More
Regulatory Taking Affirmed by Texas Court of Appeals
On August 1, 2022, the Fifth District Court of Appeals in Dallas, Texas affirmed a $33 million dollar jury verdict in favor of a property owner on a regulatory taking claim! Dallas v. Trinity East Energy (2022-8-1 Trinity East Energy). In short, the City of Dallas and Trinity East had entered into a Lease Agreement... Read More
File a Property Tax Appeal: Costs, Exceptions, and Tips
Filing a property tax appeal can seem daunting, especially when you’re unsure about the costs involved. While many assume that filing an appeal will always incur expenses, there are situations where fees can be waived. Understanding the nuances can help you navigate the process more effectively. Here’s what you need to know about how to... Read More
The Deed is Done: Bruce’s Beach Officially Returned to Family’s Descendants Almost a Century After Pretextual Condemnation
In November 2021, we blogged about a story where California’s Governor, Gavin Newsom, signed a law authorizing Los Angeles County to return a beach property taken by eminent domain back to descendants of the original property owners. That blog can be found here. Fast forward to mid-July 2022, an oceanfront ceremony officially marked the first... Read More
