Phoenix, Arizona

In 1998, the City of Phoenix condemned a grocery store and several other small businesses on the corner of 24^th Street and Broadway, intending to transfer the land to a private developer.  Though none of the businesses were blighted, the City justified the takings under Arizona’s vague redevelopment statute by declaring that the area was “overrun with crime.”[1]  Rather than taking steps to lower crime in the area, the City instead chose to redevelop at the expense of innocent businesses.  However, the condemnations did nothing to improve the area.  The City still has not been able to find a developer willing to buy the property, and it remains vacant eight years later.[2]