Wealthy Chicago Suburb Threatens Eminent Domain

The well to do Chicago suburb of Highland Park wants to play "socialist dictator":

Nothing is wrong with the single-story white stucco building in Highland Park--nothing, that is, except it stands empty in an area the city considers its commercial showplace.

That is enough to put it on the road to possible condemnation, as the city filed this summer in Lake County Circuit Court to force the owner to sell the property under eminent domain law.

The building has been vacant since The Gap cleared out in January 2004.

"It's too important of a corner for our downtown. We feel it's time to get something going there," Mayor Michael Belsky said. "And if we have to take the property and give it to someone who's more interested in leasing it, then that's in our best interest."

Obviously,there's no limit on what the Highland Park Mayor thinks he can do.Who's property is it ? With eminent domain local governments really think they own all the property in their town.