ATLANTA, Editor's Note: The following editorial
comment is adapted from the editorial in the January/February 2006 edition of
"The Rambler," published by The Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation.
Historic Macon Foundation uses the city's power of eminent domain to
acquire absentee-owned derelict buildings that block its effective
neighborhood revitalization efforts.

deprived viability

The catalyst for historic neighborhood revitalization for the last 30
years has been through acquiring, rehabilitating and reselling historic
buildings.
What will be the real impact of the Kelo decision? Only time will tell.

reinvestment humanly

Army Corps of Engineers grant to
clean up Nine Mile Run, which flows through the site, and helped pay for
environmental cleanup and remediation of the site.

stabilizing livable

Schneider urged the guests assembled at Summerset on Friday to vote "yes"
on the bond referendum question May 17.

Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation Asks 'Where Does Eminent Domain Fit Into the Preservation Puzzle?'

org/eminent_domain.
We hope the public keeps the issue of community enhancement in mind as we
consider all the issues associated with eminent domain .

declining revitalize

Mark Schneider, president and managing partner of The Rubinoff Co. It is essential to go beyond political
boundaries and work together to ensure the future health and vitality of
Pennsylvania communities that in turn will attract private sector investment
and create family-sustaining jobs . "Because, if we have the resources to
create these kinds of communities, then we can relieve the pressure on our
open spaces and farmland. The fine line separating the two is community involvement , both in the
planning process and in increasing public awareness of the importance of
preserving each community's unique character.

abandonment revitalizing

S.votegrowinggreener. A
copy of the comments that follow along with a head + shoulders shot of the
author, Greg Paxton, president + CEO of The Georgia Trust for Historic
Preservation, may be downloaded by going to
http://www.

revitalizing reinvestment

Growing Greener was the
glue that got this together."
"USW has a long history in Pittsburgh, and we're throwing our endorsement
behind Growing Greener II to help secure the future here, too," USW
International President Gerard said."
Only days remain before voters decide on the initiative -- one of the
single largest investments in Pennsylvania's future.

humanly ilsr

PITTSBURGH, One of the developers of Pittsburgh's
largest residential development since World War II joined with state and local
officials, labor leaders, environmental groups and conservation organizations
Friday to encourage residents to support a $625 million "Growing Greener" bond
referendum on the May 17 primary election ballot.
We hope that the General Assembly will continue to encourage the use of a
multitude of planning tools and economic incentives so that historic downtowns
and neighborhoods continue to revitalize with an awareness that preservation
is a very vital piece of the economic development toolbox.

Sites offering information on regional, community, and economic development initiatives.

slums bipartisan

, joined
Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) Secretary Dennis
Yablonsky, United Steelworkers (USW) International President Leo Gerard,
Allegheny County Chief Executive Dan Onorato and John Oliver (R), former
secretary of the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) at a
news conference at Summerset at Frick Park, five miles from downtown
Pittsburgh.

revitalization reinvestment

S.
Monticello condemned a dilapidated building on its downtown square and
rehabilitated the structure in 2001 for its City Hall, sparking revival of the
whole downtown.
And in Stockbridge, debate swirls over the use of eminent domain to
condemn the only building currently listed in the National Register of
Historic Places to build a multi-use complex with a city hall, retail shops
and homes.

thinkcycle declining

abandonment stabilizing

"
The $625 million bond issue, which passed with overwhelming bipartisan
support from the Legislature, will protect working farms; preserve natural
areas and open spaces; clean up rivers and streams; take on serious
environmental problems at abandoned mines and contaminated industrial sites,
shore up key programs that are dangerously short of funds, improve our state
parks; enhance local recreational needs; repair fish hatcheries and other
habitat-related facilities; and revitalize communities across the
Commonwealth .
The very rise of historic preservation came from the public outcry during
the 1950s and 1960s , when local governments used eminent domain to remove
"blighted" older and historic areas for "urban renewal" -- usually by private
entities.
While eminent domain is nothing new, what has changed with the Kelo
decision is the clarification that "public use" and "public purpose" can
include economic development, a broad term that can involve private
residential or commercial development .
The case has created a puzzle of sorts for state and local governments to
piece together .

livable ilsr

In acknowledging his strong support for Growing Greener, former Secretary
Oliver said, "Since 1999, I've seen firsthand how the original Growing Greener
program has cleaned up our rivers and streams, funded repairs to our state
parks and helped eliminate acid mine drainage.htm

In June 2005, the U.

swaraj livable

9 million U."
"The Growing Greener initiative gives us the opportunity to enhance and
invest in our parks, trails and other greenspaces," Allegheny County Chief
Executive Onorato said.

viability ilsr

Funding through Growing Greener programs was key to the
environmental restoration necessary to transform the 240-acre former slag pile
from a brownfield into a vibrant neighborhood, which eventually will feature
more than 700 homes."
And when the project is complete, Summerset Land Development Associates
and the Urban Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh will deed 130 of the 240
acres to the adjacent city-owned Frick Park. That means ensuring a better quality of space for residents.

Eminent domain -- also referred to as condemnation -- has been used by
local and state governments and other public and quasi-public entities for
years to acquire private property for both public and private use.

revitalizing livable

"Approving the Growing Greener ballot question allows
us to take a proactive step toward revitalizing our neighborhoods and
improving the quality of life for our residents.org.
This ruling not only brought intense and emotional public response, but
has resulted in a blaze of legislative activity across the country, including
in Georgia.

neath reinvestment

bipartisan thinkcycle

"Having a dedicated resources program to invest in open space and park
preservation and watershed protection leverages the opportunities to rebuild
communities and create residential density where we need it," Schneider said. Swirling around the decision are the issues of private
property, economic development and what exactly constitutes the public's best
interests.
Here in Georgia, the U.
While eminent domain has often been used to eliminate historic buildings
in disrepair, long-term vacant parcels have often resulted .

viability stabilizing

"Growing
Greener funds leveraged a $5.

S.
A balance can be found between using the power of condemnation to promote
community revitalization such as through historic preservation , and using
eminent domain for private development at the expense of the community's well
being .

mayors livable

"Growing Greener is about public-private partnerships, and this project
could not have happened without that kind of leveraging," said Schneider, a
member of the board of directors of 10,000 Friends of Pennsylvania.

bipartisan revitalizing

The bond will help to
address some of the state's most pressing environmental problems , ensure a
higher quality of life for residents and enhance the economic competitiveness
of Pennsylvania .
"Governor Rendell has focused on providing Pennsylvania communities with
the necessary resources as they strive to invigorate their economies and
neighborhoods," DCED Secretary Yablonsky said. "Make no mistake about it: This bond
initiative is about more than just the environment -- it is also a way for us
to make sure our Commonwealth thrives economically and competes globally, and
it is a way for us to make Pennsylvania more attractive for workers, families
and businesses. Supreme Court ruling and what it means legally
for the state is a significant issue during the 2006 General Assembly, and
Governor Perdue has taken the lead.

haringey revitalize

10 000 Friends of Pennsylvania Joins State Officials Labor Leaders to Urge Voters to Say 'YES' to Growing Greener Bond Question

The result, a common good, is
another long-lasting intent of Growing Greener.georgiatrust. Supreme Court ruled in Kelo v. New London that the
use of eminent domain for economic development met the definition of public
purpose. Condemnation also
can be -- and has been -- used to protect historic resources.

declining downtowns

DCED Secretary Yablonsky and USW International President Gerard stressed
that the bond initiative is vital to keep Pennsylvania thriving both
environmentally and economically, ensuring a higher quality of life that will
help the state win the race for new business development. "This initiative will fund
programs that will help to clean up our environment and revitalize older
townships, boroughs and cities." Oliver, who also serves as co-
chairman of the Vote YES for Growing Greener Committee , added: "Each one of us
now has the opportunity to extend these real environmental benefits to more
areas of the state by voting 'yes' on the Growing Greener ballot question May
17.

slums livable

We have a strong workforce here, and we want to keep them
here."
FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT http://www.
Ignoring overwhelming evidence that rehabilitation of historic buildings
is the key catalyst for community revitalization, few communities still view
demolition as the solution to dealing with rundown historic buildings.

llandarcy redevelop

Our primary interest is of course in how this ruling and the General
Assembly decisions will help or hinder the Trust's and many others' highly
successful efforts across the state to revitalize scores of communities by
reusing historic structures.