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In the face of upcoming restrictions on the use of eminent domain to take private property from some to help private developers, Los Angeles officials are using the power of eminent domain to take over property from small businesses to build a new luxury W hotel and condos.

The condemnation proceedings, authorized by the Los Angeles Community Redevelopment Agency, set the stage for one of the most ambitious revitalization efforts in Hollywood, the Los Angeles Times reported.
But the action is being decried as heavy-handed and unfriendly by homeowners and merchants who said it was wrong to use public money and power to benefit a private developer, according to the newspaper.

The planned development at Hollywood Boulevard and Vine Street would replace several buildings from the district’s golden era.

The proposed Hollywood and Vine project is intended to include a luxury W 300-room Hotel, 525 condominium and apartment units, and 61,000 square feet of retail and restaurant space, according to The Times. via the North County Times

A sign outside of Bernards Luggage store made to look like a movie poster reads:

“Reverse Robin Hood Pictures presents, ‘Murder on Vine Street: Eminent Domain Kills Small Businesses,’ ” it reads. “This story tells it all: Greed, Corruption and Gridlock.”

It lists as its “stars” the U.S. Supreme Court, Hollywood-area City Councilman Eric Garcetti, Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, “the Community Redevelopment Agency as ‘The Godfather’ ” and “the Little Rascals as ‘the developers’ .” via The LA Times

That sounds just about right.

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