Selling one-square-metre plots to stop a developer
November 13, 2013 2:37 AM Subscribe
I read about this some years ago and can't recall the details - Does anyone recall it?
As far as I can recall, the people who were against a proposed development (I think it may have been a road that was proposed) bought the land that stood in the way and then divided it into many small one-metre-square plots and sold them to the supporters of the opposition to the development.
The idea was that the developer and perhaps also any compulsory purchase procedure would have a more difficult job overcoming the objections when faced with many procedural hurdles.
I don't recall the details - that's what I am trying to trace - and it may have happened in France.
As far as I can recall, the people who were against a proposed development (I think it may have been a road that was proposed) bought the land that stood in the way and then divided it into many small one-metre-square plots and sold them to the supporters of the opposition to the development.
The idea was that the developer and perhaps also any compulsory purchase procedure would have a more difficult job overcoming the objections when faced with many procedural hurdles.
I don't recall the details - that's what I am trying to trace - and it may have happened in France.
I have heard of this but reasonably overturned by "eminent domain", inability to secure planning approval for division of property, or treated as a vexatious or spurious transaction.
posted by rmhsinc at 5:36 AM on November 13, 2013
posted by rmhsinc at 5:36 AM on November 13, 2013
If something like this was done, it would just be a procedural roadblock. I think it might even make it easier to condemn the land via eminent domain as a square meter of land doesn't have any viable use, so the value would be next to nothing.
posted by hwyengr at 7:17 AM on November 13, 2013
posted by hwyengr at 7:17 AM on November 13, 2013
In partial response to hwyengr's comment, I'm not sure about real estate laws in other locations, but in the US (at least California), such sales of land would not subdivide the land for development, but would likely make the purchasers part owner of the larger parcel. In the case of Greenpeace or other groups holding such "land sales," I believe they'd be doing so to bring attention to their cause, and to get people connected to the issue without asking them to sit in lawn chairs on the property.
posted by filthy light thief at 8:43 AM on November 13, 2013
posted by filthy light thief at 8:43 AM on November 13, 2013
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posted by theseldomseenkid at 4:35 AM on November 13, 2013 [1 favorite]