Reply With QuoteDon't think it will only happen to a small percentage of us.
Right now we are gearing up for a ED battle at my extended family's mountain cabin. They built and have resided at the cabin since focking 1912! The state already used ED once to build a state highway next to the property in the 50's. Over the years the 18 wheeler traffic has progressively gotten heavier as it is cut through from Rome, GA to interstate 59(probably to avoid the scales). Bear in mind this is a old school tourist town (highest town in Alabama) with downtown consisting of gift shops, bed and breakfast hotels, many children's camps. Basically this is a mountain country road that happens to be the most convient pass to the interstate. There is a bigger highway close to the south but it takes an extra 15-20 minutes for the trucks going north to use. Our place is half a mile from town on really pretty river (one of the cleanest in the nation) that goes to Desoto Falls.
Several bad (some fatal) accidents between cars and big trucks recently put this particular place in the spotlight because of the narrow bridge and curve on approach. In fact several have landed in the front yard. Their solution (instead of lowering speed limit from 45 to 35) is to build new bridge and take 150-200 feet of the property which basically will codemn our 93 year old cabin and 60 year old stone boat house all so the trucks can drive faster through town and still be safe (maybe)...which I imagine will add even more truck traffic.
The other side of the road could be done and only need 80 feet and be a cheaper to construct, but that owner apparently is buddy's with the state senator. So that means the highway department is trying to ram it down our throats. No trying to be reasonable or listen to alternative ideas, just a bunch of kid engineers probably from Auburn drawing how they like. They won't listen to our calls for lowering the speed limit even after several hundred signatures on a petition. They got some money for a project and probably feel like they have to spend it... even if a large part of the community doesn't want it.
Basically this will destroy the value of this place and it really is not replaceable even if they give a fair value...and I doubt they will.
In fact the new bridge was scheduled for late next year, but when we bought in environmental experts to study the damage they bumped the schedule up to late this year...this kind of shit really sucks and even if we prevail in the end I'm sure it will end up costing thousands of dollars to fight. Being there first ought to count for something.
...All for the public good. Whenever politicians, lawyers, and engineers get in the same room you know somebody is gonna get screwed.
That is heartbreaking. Could you get the building and/or boat house on the national historical registry? Of ourse, that limits you to any development on the property as well, but that just means you have to get approval, not that you can't do it later.
That COULD work but it might take too long. Seems like the municipality is in a rush (trying to beat out the "environmental imapct study" as well). I do wish them luck though.
