Could cities take properties under their right to eminent domain in depressed

[JDPriestly]

areas that have been blighted by numerous foreclosures? Seems to me they could provided that they pay just compensation determined by a court and by comparable values of similar homes on the market. They could then resell those properties to private interests (citizens) for redevelopment.

I thinking of places like Detroit and areas in California that have a lot of empty housing.

[leftstreet]

1. A gazillion square foot mansion ALSO has a lot of 'empty housing'

[tularetom]

2. They can take them for unpaid property taxes with less effort

If somebody walks away from a piece of property they will generally stop paying taxes on it. After a certain period of time (5 yrs here in CA), and the proper posting and public notice the city or county can sell the property to recoup the lost property taxes.