I am president of my commercial condo association in Destin Florida. My real estate office, Rulnick Realty, is in a strip mall with a variety of businesses- restaurants, jewelers, bank, boutique, flooring and more. A few days ago I got a call slip with a message from our association manager:
“Our plaza has won the lotto! Check for $30,000 received in the mail”.
What!? Huh?!! I scrambled for the phone to find out what was going on. The association manager says there was a short note from an attorney that stated, “Partial settlement from EMINENT DOMAIN lawsuit” and a check for $30,000.
I scrambled to go into public records for the Walton County Clerk of Courts. There it was, the notice of eminent domain lawsuit, dated March 2003, before the owners took over the plaza from the developer:
It seems that a public water company was condemning part of our property by eminent domain. There was a further record listed as "Stipulated Order of Taking" . It reads in part: "The public body was exercising its delegated authority to obtain a perpetual easement and temporary construction easement for three years from the date of deposit. Upon twice the deposit of good faith estimate, the right, title and interest shall vest to the public water company."
Further, it said the amount of $30,000 was deposited with the court in March 2003.
SO, why is my plaza getting a check six years later? How shall we contest this amount if it is not “just”? It is too late to get our own condemnation appraisal? What is our recourse? What do the Florida Eminent Domain Statutes say?
We have many questions yet unanswered. Rest assured, my research has just began, and I will post my findings here.
It's Wendy!
Wendy Rulnick, Broker, CRP, CRS, GRI, ABR Rulnick Realty, Inc.
Destin Short Sales & Pre Foreclosure Help.
Read Wendy's Destin Real Estate Blog
Call toll-free 1-877-ITS-WNDY (1-877-487-9639) or local 850-650-7883 ext 204
Email Wendy: itswendy@rulnickrealty.com
Wendy is a short sale and pre-foreclosure specialist and has been featured in "Kiplinger Personal Finance Magazine" and "Florida Realtor Magazine". Call Wendy Rulnick, Broker/Owner,to list and sell your home or condo on the Emerald Coast of Florida in Walton, Okaloosa and Santa Rosa County- Destin, Santa Rosa Beach, Fort Walton Beach, Niceville, Bluewater Bay, Navarre, Seagrove Beach, Watercolor, Sandestin, Seaside, Crestview, Rosemary Beach, Mary Esther, Shalimar, Eglin AFB, Hurlburt Field.
Comments(11)