Orion_70 Posted May 7, 2009 Report Share Posted May 7, 2009 Thought this was interesting: http://www.wjactv.com/news/19396127/detail.html Feds To Seize Private Land For 9/11 Memorial Posted: 1:04 pm EDT May 7, 2009Updated: 1:12 pm EDT May 7, 2009 National Park Service officials said they will begin taking land for the Flight 93 memorial in Somerset County from property owners because negotiations have been unsuccessful. The service said it will condemn about 500 acres still needed for the memorial to be built in time for the 10th anniversary of the 2001 terrorist attacks. Randall Musser, who is one of seven landowners affected, said he is surprised by the Park Service's actions but understands the agency must move forward with land acquisition to finish the memorial by 2011. Park Service representatives said they have been working with landowners for years, but negotiations have not been successful. Musser said while there have been talks about negotiating, they have never sat down and discussed anything. On Tuesday, Musser said a Park Services appraisers came to look at his land. Before he heard back from the appraiser, he received a letter informing him the Park Service would be using government powers to take the land. Park Service officials said, even with homeowners willing to sell, title questions and other claims can arise that could delay the project. The Park Service will need about 1,500 acres to construct the memorial, and 500 of those acres will come from the landowners. Flight 93 was traveling from Newark, N.J., to San Francisco when it was diverted by hijackers with the likely goal of crashing it into the White House or Capitol. The official 9/11 Commission report said the hijackers crashed the plane into a Pennsylvania field as passengers tried to wrest control of the cockpit. Construction on the memorial is set to begin by the end of the year. The park service planned to publicly release further details later Thursday. Stay with WJACTV.com and WJAC-TV News for continuing coverage. I personally have to say I may not have all the facts here, but I can't stand when any government declares eminent domain and starts seizing property. I'm sure they'll be paid, but I don't see them Seizing 1500 acres in NY at the site of the World Trade Centers to make a memorial park either!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhunt Posted May 7, 2009 Report Share Posted May 7, 2009 Don't like the idea of the feds seizing anything either. Having had been to the site of the flight 93 memorial, guess I am not so sure why exactly that the federal gov't needs to have 1500 acres. It was my understanding that they already acquired the land where the existing temporary memorial was located. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RangerClay Posted May 7, 2009 Report Share Posted May 7, 2009 Don't like the idea of the feds seizing anything either. Having had been to the site of the flight 93 memorial, guess I am not so sure why exactly that the federal gov't needs to have 1500 acres. It was my understanding that they already acquired the land where the existing temporary memorial was located. My thoughts exactly??? What do they need with 1500 acres? :confused: That's one heck of a parking lot. I'm wondering if they are moving forward before the landowners find out about their mineral rights. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jesse8953 Posted May 7, 2009 Report Share Posted May 7, 2009 1500 acres for a memorial:eek:? How big does it have to be!How many people will go to see it:confused:? I think a memorial is fine but the government has something up, wanting 1500 acres:rolleyes: I LOVE MY COUNTRY BUT FEAR MY GOVERNMENT! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimT Posted May 7, 2009 Report Share Posted May 7, 2009 Just put a fenced in monument and call it good..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevebeilgard Posted May 8, 2009 Report Share Posted May 8, 2009 Just put a fenced in monument and call it good..... yep. 5 acres is more than enough. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Orion_70 Posted May 8, 2009 Author Report Share Posted May 8, 2009 yep. 5 acres is more than enough. I couldn't agree more. It was my understandning that initially the owner had dedicated them with 3 acres for the site, which would be more than enough.. Why the heck do they need 1500 acres? At a cost of over 60 million for the monument?.. 5 acres for that is plenty!!! I don't like it, not one bit!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhunt Posted May 8, 2009 Report Share Posted May 8, 2009 I couldn't agree more. It was my understandning that initially the owner had dedicated them with 3 acres for the site, which would be more than enough.. Why the heck do they need 1500 acres? At a cost of over 60 million for the monument?.. 5 acres for that is plenty!!! I don't like it, not one bit!!! If my memory serves me correctly from our visit to the site, there was a person who was speaking to visitors who told us that there was indeed a gift of land for the purpose of the monument given to the govt. The crash site is kind of hilly and there is a low open field that you look down over, which was where the plane actually crashed. I do not recall if that property was mentioned as being owned privately at that time or not, but that is only a couple hundred acres including the hill. There was also a crane a good ways off with a flag flying back behind where the temporary monument visitor area was located, maybe they are including that area in what they wish to acquire/steal/seize. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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