Update: City Attorney Eric Nycz says the city hasn’t “taken” the Mid Cities Mall property.
They’ve just started the process of “taking” meaning “action is more specifically an exercise of the eminent domain powers of a municipality.
This is a process that takes several months (or longer) and must also follow statutory procedures.
The first procedure is to declare the “taking” necessary.
That is exactly what the Common Council did. They further authorized City staff to move forward in that process.”
If negotiations fail, the City makes a final offer (a “jurisdictional offer”) and more formal proceedings may follow, including a trial in Circuit Court to determine the value of the property (which the City would have to pay in order to “take” the property).
Basically, the City may force the owner(s) to convey the property, but the City has to pay for it – it cannot actually “take” it without just compensation.
Original Story:
The city of Manitowoc has taken the former Mid Cities Mall properties after blighting them last month.
The council unanimously approved the resolution during Monday’s council meeting.
The city is looking for redevelopment in the area.
They approved blighting the area after reports showed how degraded the parking lot, former JCPenney’s lot, and Younkers Building are.
Previous documents from the city showed that a Green Bay company was interested in bringing housing and other development to the area, although nothing has been approved yet.
*We were asked to explain the process because the issue of “taking” the property was misleading. We apologize for any confusion this story might have caused.”
