High Cost Rail - Part 5 (Eminent Domain)

An information pamphlet from the California High Speed Rail Authority on how the eminent domain process will work for High Cost Rail is circulating around the Peninsula.  You can read the piece titled Your Property, Your High Speed Rail here.

It addresses questions like

If it appears that your property will be affected, you may be wondering what will happen. Who will contact you? What will you be paid for your property?  Who will pay your moving costs?  Will the Rail Authority help you find a new place to live?

as well as the impact on your Prop. 13 cost basis.  Of course, the main question is "How much will they pay?"

At the time the offer is made to purchase your property, you may obtain your own appraisal and the Rail Authority will reimburse you up to $5,000 for the actual, reasonable costs of obtaining an independent appraisal. A state licensed appraiser must perform your appraisal.

These will likely be very tricky appraisals subject to all sorts of extraneous factors.  Forget "comps"--more like a dart toss.  The real discussion around Burlingame is among the homeowners who won't be getting bought out.  I've had several people tell me they are delaying home improvement projects due to the uncertainty about the project, the noise, the vibration, the traffic impact, etc.

Comments

[transit]

Rosalie McCloud had a good comment at the last city council meeting about getting an MAI-certified appraisal letter instead of letting the state do whatever it wants to do. She thought we could get a formula that could be applied to lots of properties instead of guessing.

[jennifer]

http://www.mercurynews.com/bay-area-news/ci_14744763?source=rss

I wish these guys would get their stories straight.

Doty says a SJ hybrid solution would be virtually the same outcome for the Peninsula as a SF terminus (based on very their high ridership forecasts), and Diridon says it's illegal to disembark and reembark in SJ.

Time for a study by an engineering expert who isn't representing HSR or Caltrain. In the case that it is not technically optimal, the system could (as phase I) use a hybrid Caltrain connect in SJ, until the funds are in place to finish the spur line to SF, but done in respectful manner to each city, and in a way that doesn't destroy our downtowns.

[David desJardins]

It seems pretty clear that even the "hybrid" solution would require four tracks and grade separation as Caltrain upgrades, it's not clear the impact is much less.

[Ted Crocker]

A friend of mine who lives along the tracks in SM asked me what happens if a person is upside down on their property due the economy? Are they required to pay the bank the remaining amount not covered after the HSRA buys them out to build their shoofly tracks during construction? Will they have no down payment to buy another house? Will they be relegated to being renters, when before they always paid on their mortgage and owned a home? Great questions. I read the booklet listed above. I saw no answers. I asked Jeff Barker and Mike Garvey and was referred back to the Booklet you mentioned above. I'm so glad they have read their own literature. Hmm?