Eminent Domain

The Railway Exchange building has been vacant since 2014 and has become a high-profile downtown eyesore riddled with trespassing and other crime.

Missouri Republicans for years have criticized the use of eminent domain to build high-voltage transmission lines.

Mayor Tishaura Jones signed legislation Tuesday clearing the way for the city to force the sale of certain private properties near the NGA’s new headquarters that are unoccupied, vacant, condemned or otherwise a nuisance.

“While eminent domain can be scary, ultimately, this use of eminent domain protects existing residents and existing occupied businesses,” the bill’s sponsor said.

Jeff-Vander-Lou and St. Louis Place neighborhood associations are proposing a redevelopment to city officials that would allow residents to use tax abatements to improve their homes and block eminent domain from being used to force them to sell.

The most controversial of the bills that took effect Sunday put new restrictions on voting and voter registration, including a requirement to show a photo ID to cast a ballot.

University City residents say officials promised eminent domain wouldn’t be used to sell their homes.

The measure is in response to a long fight over the Grain Belt Express, a planned transmission line that will cut across a 200-mile stretch of northern Missouri. The changes, however, will not affect that project.

Creve Coeur officials will rededicate a park Saturday to honor Dr. H. Phillip Venable, a Black man forced to sell his property more than 50 years ago.

Invenergy has bought 45% of the land it needs to run the electric transmission line across northern Missouri.