The first thing one must understand about the Supreme Court and human settlement pattern cases is that no matter how good or bad the initial press coverage makes the case seem, the facts turn out to be different.
The validity of the City of New London action and the court’s opinion depends on whether the municipality, representing the interests of all the citizens, has a well considered Comprehensive Plan that will result in functional human settlement patterns. If it does, these patterns will benefit the entire community and is a public purpose. If not, this taking will continue the agglomeration of dysfunction as so many urban renewal, highway and waterway projects have done in the past.
The second thing to recognize is that almost none of the outlandish things that are predicted to flow from a case like this ever happen. Read some of the gnashing of teeth and dire predictions that followed Euclid v. Ambler, Grand Central, etc.
Let us spend our energy on issues that will improve the life of all citizens like real property tax reform, improving mobility and access and providing affordable and accessible shelter.
EMR