Location, Location, Location

Good news on the eminent domain front. After spending two years fighting the city of Hollywood's attempt to strip them of their family business and give it to a developer, the Mach family has prevailed:

The city can't take a family's downtown property and give it to a private developer, a judge ruled Thursday, ending a two-year legal battle and potentially jeopardizing a $100 million condominium complex.

Broward Circuit Court Judge Ronald J. Rothschild's ruling in favor of the Mach family, which has owned a building on Harrison Street for decades, came as a blow to Mayor Mara Giulianti, who pushed the eminent domain battle over strong protest from residents. It also means that developer Charles "Chip'' Abele will have to alter plans for a 19-story condo and retail complex.

"This just shows that a lot of people unified can stand up to a bully, to a government that they don't think is doing the right thing,'' said David Mach, whose late father bought the building after immigrating from Hungary and died during the negotiation process with the city.

Mach said he and his mother have no intention of selling to Abele or anybody else.

In response to the infamous Supreme Court ruling, the state of Florida enacted a law outlawing the use of eminent domain for a third party's benefit. The law didn't apply to cases, such as the Mach's, that had already moven forward in the courts.
The Hollywood commission did a great impersonation of a robber baron. Had there been a river to dam up to drive the Machs out, I'm sure they'd have done it.