Lowball Watch — Virginia

The on-line edition of Richmond  Times-Dispach (TimesDispatch.com, of December 10, 2012 (Randy Hallman, Henrico Loses Eminent Domain Dispute With Property Owner), reports that a Henrico County jury brought in a verdict of $236,75o, rejecting the county’s offer of $126,000. The owner, Emily Sterling successfully contended in court that the county’s taking of 1/5 acre out of the larger parcel of 1/2 acre rendered the remainder unsuitable for development.

The irony of this case lies in the fact that the owner offered the entire 1/2 acre parcel to the county for $253,000, but the county refused. So for about the same amount of money the county could have had the entire half-acre.