ROANOKE, Va. – The Roanoke City Council is planning to consider its most drastic action yet to get property to complete a section of the Roanoke River Greenway.
The agenda for Monday’s meeting includes a proposal to consider eminent domain for acquiring land to close a nearly 2-mile gap in the Greenway -- land which Walker Machine & Foundry currently owns.
Eminent domain allows the government to buy private land for public purposes at fair market value.
Council members say they would prefer not to be that forceful. A vote Monday would potentially allow eminent domain to move forward. There will be a public hearing beginning at 7 p.m.
Discussions between Walker Machine & Foundry and the city have been going on for years. According to documents from the city attorney, the city feels it has attempted to negotiate in good faith, bringing in a third party to evaluate the property's value.
The city has offered the company nearly $80,000 to buy the land and said it would build a barrier between the foundry and the public space.
All land in the current 8-mile stretch in Roanoke was acquired without using eminent domain.