June 26, 2005

Newspaper: The Boston Globe
By Lucas Wall and Lisa Wangsness, Globe Staff

FLAHERTY ASKS MAYOR TO SPUR RAPID FAN PIER DEVELOPMENT
TELLS CITY TO WEIGH SEIZING PROPERTY

Boston City Council President Michael Flaherty said yesterday that Mayor Thomas M. Menino’s efforts to spur development of Fan Pier do not go far enough, and he again called on the city to consider seizing the South Boston waterfront property using its eminent domain power.  Flaherty originally suggested taking the 21-acre property in January. He said yesterday that a recent US Supreme Court decision strengthening the eminent domain powers of local governments puts Boston Redevelopment Authority in a better legal position to seek the Fan Pier land.  ”I applaud the mayor’s effort, but I would like to reissue my challenge to see if the BRA would consider moving on the Fan Pier property via eminent domain powers,” Flaherty said. ”Eminent domain is one tool that the city can use along with threatening to revoke the permits.”  read the entire article…