Last of the Kelo homeowners settle with New London, CT
I am in the northeast this holiday season and, therefore, had the opportunity to actually learn of the latest development in the Ft. Trumbull area of New London, CT on the front page of The Day, New London’s newspaper. Fitting, in that this is the final development of this chapter.
The last 2 homeowners of the embattled properties, Pasquale Cristofaro and Susette Kelo (for whom the now-infamous Kelo v. New London case is named reached a settlement with the city of New London dated yesterday, 30 June. Both of them accepted undisclosed sums of money. Cristofaro also stipulated that the city save the shrubs growing at his current location and move them to his new home. There’s more than just a weird story there. Have a look:
Cristofaro emigrated from Italy in 1962, said his son, Michael Cristofaro, and he purchased a house on Woodbridge Street shortly thereafter. The city seized that house in the 1970s for a protective sea wall, never built, and Cristofaro used the money to purchase the house at 53 Goshen St.
By wheelbarrow or shopping carriage, Cristofaro transported his shrubs from his first home to his second, where he replanted them, Michael Cristofaro said.
This is the only link to his first house in the US he has left. Interesting enough, but did you notice what the article provided, even in passing? Read that line again: “The city seized that house in the 1970s for a protective sea wall, never built…”
That’s right – this man’s had his property removed once before. In that case, the seizure was for a sea wall, a justifiable public good. The fact that it was never built is an insult but that’s nothing like seizing his current home for a private developer who may or may not generate additional tax revenues with whatever business is planned.
Might be interesting to find out what happened to the land Cristofaro’s 1st house sat on and what’s on there today. I might have to see to that.
Kelo herself gets to stay in her home for up to a year while she looks elsewhere for a new plot. She has the go-ahead to move the house (at her expense) should she so decide.
It’s difficult to believe this series of events has been going on for almost 10 years. The timeline, for those interested, is here. The Day is also holding a poll on whether it was worth it for the city to have pursued this. At the moment I looked, it was running 134 – 44 against. Of course, the only poll that counts will be the next election day polls to see if the members of New London’s Council who pursued this course gets to keep their chairs.
Additonal commentary by yours truly on eminent domain and Kelo is here, here, here, and here.
(Thanks to Mudville Gazette for the open post.)
