Anti-Eminent Domain Group Issues Warning to Residents in West Haven

About 130 property owners in West Haven received a warning this week about the possible threat of eminent domain.

The warning came from the group, Develop Don’t Destroy West Haven, which argues the city should not be allowed to use eminent domain for private redevelopment.

Lifelong West Haven resident Mohamed Badawi bought his new house on Maple St. in September for his family. He tells NBC Connecticut he was disappointed to receive the warning about possible losing it through eminent domain in a future redevelopment project.

“Nobody from the city came up to me personally and assured me that they’re not going to move forward,” Badawi said.

Badawi’s house is one of the 130 properties that fall in a proposal map for The Haven North, a second phase of redevelopment in West Haven.

“Should these folks be concerned that they might be subject to eminent domain?” NBC Connecticut asked Mayor Ed O’Brien.

“No,” he said, “and at this time the developer is really just focusing on south of Elm Street, so I don’t think these people should be concerned at this time. The development has always been in two phases, north and south.”

The Haven South project should create more than 2,500 construction and retail jobs by turning an area on the water into an upscale mall with 60 high end stores, 8 restaurants and an amphitheater.

“It is pretty much going to open up that shoreline for the first time in over 100 years,” O’Brien said, adding he hopes the mall becomes a regional destination for shoppers.

So far, O’Brien said the developer has settled with a majority of the property owners in phase one by making reasonable offers.

“It is absolutely a last resort to use eminent domain,” O’Brien said.

The owners of the Citgo Gas Station and S&S Minimart are among the few that have not yet settled with the developer. They say offer can’t match what they stand to make if they keep their business open.

“We have two families, three families, depending on this business,” Saed Ahmed said, “so if we are going to sell it now, what should we do? There is no other good location around here”

The mayor said the developers should break ground this spring with the goal of completing the upscale mall by the holiday season in 2017.

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