The city of Little Rock says it needs land from four property owners for the 430-630 interchange project and it plans to get that land through eminent domain. The city council authorized the city attorney to file papers to claim the land for its portion of the overhaul through eminent domain.
Part of the project includes an overpass that would take 630 across Shackleford and land right about Hermitage. The road will be widened, but one property manager says he worries the city won't pay enough.
The city plans to widen Chenal from four lanes to six between Shackleford and Autumn Road as part of the 430-630 Interchange Renovation. The city takes responsibility for this part of the state highway department project.
"It's going to hurt our building and our owners," says John Holt with Vogel Realty.
John Holt is the property manager for Vogel Realty. Its one of the four properties along Chenal that would lose land. Yellow flags mark the more than 1,100 square feet Vogel would lose. Holt says the city offered Vogel more than $78,000 dollars for it.
When asked if Holt thought it was a fair amount, he said, "For just the land yes. But for the reasons I told you, access and regress, no."
Holt says Vogel would have to pay to replace its sprinkler system and plans to close off the median would disrupt traffic and business.
"It will be very difficult for tenants to explain to their clients how to get here," says Holt.
City leaders voted Tuesday night to pursue eminent domain. But City Manager Bruce Moore says Little Rock is trying to work with property owners. And if they can't come to an agreement, this could go to court.
"Its always been our intent on this project and many others that we work with the property owners on a viable solution before we go to court," says Moore.
Vogel Realty does have attornies working on negotiating the land price.
Moore says the city needed to secure the land soon to meet deadlines for federal funding for this project. The Government's fiscal year ends later this month and the highway department could have lost 75 to 80 million dollars.
The city attorney says other properties impacted by this include a strip mall, the Courtyard by Marriott Hotel and a small piece of land next to a dry cleaners. The city is considering one version of plans that would spare the strip mall.
