Owner Seeks $10 Million for Flight 93 Memorial Land

[Demon-Xanth]

If he were asking $10M for the few acres where the plane actually hit, that'd be something. But for 273 acres when the developers want 1300? I'm with the land owner here.

For reference:
The developers want two square miles.

 

[Skunkwourk]

Originally posted by: KK
273 acre x 10,000 acre would be 2.73 million. he wants close to 40,000 an acre, yes it's a hell of alot for an acre. I don't think that's fair price, and think the guys is just out to make a buck, but it all comes down to it's his land and he can do whatever the hell he wants.

Disclaimer: I don't know anything

Anyone know how compares to the price of land in major CA cities?

btw, I see nothing wrong with what hes doing.

 

[waggy]

booo Anandtech mod! i seen that post!


heh



:shiftyeyes;

 

[dullard]

The owner deserves to be able to keep the land if he wants to. However, our eminent domain laws don't give you that right. And with the recent supreme court ruling, his rights were taken away even further. I feel sorry for him on that aspect.

However, he is just being an ass. If they want one or two acres for $500k or even $1M, take that offer. There is no reason he has to demand that they buy all 273 acres. If he doesn't take it, watch him get next to nothing due to eminent domain.

 

[Kwaipie]

They gave the spouses of the WTC millions. (I still haven't figured that one out) they can afford 10 million to this guy. Roughly equal to 1 hour of fighting in Iraq, the perpetrators of this heinous act, according to our President & Co.

 

[waggy]

Originally posted by: dullard
The owner deserves to be able to keep the land if he wants to. However, our eminent domain laws don't give you that right. And with the recent supreme court ruling, his rights were taken away even further. I feel sorry for him on that aspect.

However, he is just being an ass. If they want one or two acres for $500k or even $1M, take that offer. There is no reason he has to demand that they buy all 273 acres. If he doesn't take it, watch him get next to nothing due to eminent domain.

they WANT 1300 acres for it. part of that 1300 acres is HIS 273 acres.


but you are right. i expect them to hit him with Eminent domain clause soon.

he si giving the few acres that the crash site was for free.

 

[waggy]

Originally posted by: Kwaipie
They gave the spouses of the WTC millions. (I still haven't figured that one out) they can afford 10 million to this guy. Roughly equal to 1 hour of fighting in Iraq, the perpetrators of this heinous act, according to our President & Co.

yeah no crap. sorry you lost a spouse. but no way do they deserve millions for it.

10 million may be high. i hope they settle for like 7 million.

 

[dullard]

Originally posted by: waggy
they WANT 1300 acres for it. part of that 1300 acres is HIS 273 acres.


but you are right. i expect them to hit him with Eminent domain clause soon.

he si giving the few acres that the crash site was for free.

They never said (unfortunately) how much of his land they want. Sure, they want 1300 acres total, but most of that is other people's land. Do they want all, part, or very little of his land?

At the price he is demanding per acre, they'll have no money left after buying 1300 acres to build the memorial.

 

[jpeyton]

The donation box, installed near a temporary memorial on the land, would help cover security costs. Security has been handled by a firm at a cost of about $10,000 per month since federal funding ran out in February. The site has also incurred other costs, he said.

I just can't afford it," Svonavec said. "I need some help."

Why is he even paying for security? I'd just let the looters in and watch the site rot. If the government wants it secured, pony up for it.

 

[LeiZaK]

Originally posted by: waggy

Originally posted by: dullard
The owner deserves to be able to keep the land if he wants to. However, our eminent domain laws don't give you that right. And with the recent supreme court ruling, his rights were taken away even further. I feel sorry for him on that aspect.

However, he is just being an ass. If they want one or two acres for $500k or even $1M, take that offer. There is no reason he has to demand that they buy all 273 acres. If he doesn't take it, watch him get next to nothing due to eminent domain.

they WANT 1300 acres for it. part of that 1300 acres is HIS 273 acres.


but you are right. i expect them to hit him with Eminent domain clause soon.

he si giving the few acres that the crash site was for free.

Not only that, but it also looks like he is shelling out 10k a month on security for the crash site.

 

[waggy]

Originally posted by: dullard

Originally posted by: waggy
they WANT 1300 acres for it. part of that 1300 acres is HIS 273 acres.


but you are right. i expect them to hit him with Eminent domain clause soon.

he si giving the few acres that the crash site was for free.

They never said (unfortunately) how much of his land they want. Sure, they want 1300 acres total, but most of that is other people's land. Do they want all, part, or very little of his land?

At the price he is demanding per acre, they'll have no money left after buying 1300 acres to build the memorial.

part of the 1300 is all of his 273 acres.wich is his farmland he been useing to make a living.

what he is asking is fair. he wants $10 million (it is his land after all) but should get $6 million after all said and done.

The $500k that has been offered (3rd offer from them) is insane also.


big question is why do they need 1300 acres to begin with?

 

[waggy]

Originally posted by: jpeyton

The donation box, installed near a temporary memorial on the land, would help cover security costs. Security has been handled by a firm at a cost of about $10,000 per month since federal funding ran out in February. The site has also incurred other costs, he said.

I just can't afford it," Svonavec said. "I need some help."

Why is he even paying for security? I'd just let the looters in and watch the site rot. If the government wants it secured, pony up for it.

well what if someone gets hurt? they will sue him. not to mention the negitive pulbicity if he allowes looting.

the guy is in a lose/lose situation. sure he may get rich but at the cost of the news and "victims" calling him a monster.

 

[natto fire]

Unless the memorial is going to be a nuclear detonation site, I am not grasping why they need 1300 acres. Hopefully with enough publicity the government will not steal the land from this guy. Ok, I guess calling eminent domain stealing is a bit harsh, but it is a very thin line.

 

[Number1]

Quore from the Patrick White, vice president for Families of Flight 93.

"That land has been paid for with 40 lives ...

What a bunch of bullcrap. As if when you get killed on someone's property, your family automaticaly aquires right to it. DHOOOOO


and for the record:


1300 ACRES FOR A MEMORIAL!!!!!!!

are you americans crazy?

Please

 

[dullard]

Originally posted by: waggy
part of the 1300 is all of his 273 acres.wich is his farmland he been useing to make a living.

what he is asking is fair. he wants $10 million (it is his land after all) but should get $6 million after all said and done.

The $500k that has been offered (3rd offer from them) is insane also.

big question is why do they need 1300 acres to begin with?

I don't know PA land values, but in most other farmland, that is worth $2-$3 million. But from the sounds of the article, it is probably closer to the $2M or less mark. I can see doubling it because he wants to make a little profit and to recoup any lost money. So, $4M - $6M is fair if they want it all. $10M is pricing it right out of the ability to build the monument that is planned with the budget that they have.

Who knows though what he will get or got for selling his story rights (more millions).

He is being an ass for several reasons:
1) Purposely putting on a premium more than double what a reasonable premium would be.
2) He is unwilling to even talk with the families who are working on the memorial but only the National Park Service.

The 1300 acres is the ENTIRE area where scattered remains were found. They also want 900 more acres (2200 total) to preserve the area around the remains as a scenic area. True, they could use less than 1300 acres, but it is a reasonable amount considering plane and body parts covered that size of an area.

If I were him, I'd take a nice premium at ~$5M, and walk away a good man with a story to tell and millions in the bank. Life threw him a lemon, I hope he makes lemonade and not lawsuits.

 

[waggy]

Originally posted by: dullard

Originally posted by: waggy
part of the 1300 is all of his 273 acres.wich is his farmland he been useing to make a living.

what he is asking is fair. he wants $10 million (it is his land after all) but should get $6 million after all said and done.

The $500k that has been offered (3rd offer from them) is insane also.

big question is why do they need 1300 acres to begin with?

I don't know PA land values, but in most other farmland, that is worth $2-$3 million. But from the sounds of the article, it is probably closer to the $2M or less mark. I can see doubling it because he wants to make a little profit and to recoup any lost money. So, $4M - $6M is fair if they want it all. $10M is pricing it right out of the ability to build the monument that is planned with the budget that they have.

Who knows though what he will get or got for selling his story rights (more millions).

He is being an ass for several reasons:
1) Purposely putting on a premium more than double what a reasonable premium would be.
2) He is unwilling to even talk with the families who are working on the memorial but only the National Park Service.

The 1300 acres is the ENTIRE area where scattered remains were found. They also want 900 more acres to preserve the area around the remains as a scenic area. True, they could use less than 1300 acres, but it is a reasonable amount considering plane and body parts covered that size of an area.

If I were him, I'd take a nice premium at ~$5M, and walk away a good man with a story to tell and millions in the bank. Life threw him a lemon, I hope he makes lemonade and not lawsuits.

1) of course he should have a premium. its wanted land. so he ask $10 million. wich we all know you do not get what you ask for. odds are he will take 6-7 million

2) reason he dos not want to deal with the family is if he does he looks even worse then he does now.


1300 is NOT reasonable for it. thats insane. While i am sorry someone died they could do this without takeing so much land. they do not need the acre of land where johns right index finger landes. sorry thats nto being resonable.

 

[Feldenak]

Originally posted by: dullard

Originally posted by: waggy
part of the 1300 is all of his 273 acres.wich is his farmland he been useing to make a living.

what he is asking is fair. he wants $10 million (it is his land after all) but should get $6 million after all said and done.

The $500k that has been offered (3rd offer from them) is insane also.

big question is why do they need 1300 acres to begin with?

I don't know PA land values, but in most other farmland, that is worth $2-$3 million. But from the sounds of the article, it is probably closer to the $2M or less mark. I can see doubling it because he wants to make a little profit and to recoup any lost money. So, $4M - $6M is fair if they want it all. $10M is pricing it right out of the ability to build the monument that is planned with the budget that they have.

Who knows though what he will get or got for selling his story rights (more millions).

He is being an ass for several reasons:
1) Purposely putting on a premium more than double what a reasonable premium would be.
2) He is unwilling to even talk with the families who are working on the memorial but only the National Park Service.

The 1300 acres is the ENTIRE area where scattered remains were found. They also want 900 more acres (2200 total) to preserve the area around the remains as a scenic area. True, they could use less than 1300 acres, but it is a reasonable amount considering plane and body parts covered that size of an area.

If I were him, I'd take a nice premium at ~$5M, and walk away a good man with a story to tell and millions in the bank. Life threw him a lemon, I hope he makes lemonade and not lawsuits.

He's not charging for the land the aircraft actually crashed. $10 million seems fine. He has something that someone else wants...why not charge a premium. 1300 acres for this memorial is absurd.

 

[hanoverphist]

Originally posted by: dullard


He is being an ass for several reasons:
1) Purposely putting on a premium more than double what a reasonable premium would be.
2) He is unwilling to even talk with the families who are working on the memorial but only the National Park Service.

he isnt being an ass because of these things, he is doing these things and people think him an ass for it.

putting a premium on something that is highly sought after is pretty much the american dream isnt it? commerce runs all, ya know. i would do the same, especially if it was land that i had for some personal reason and didnt really want to sell. what if its his family land, and has been for many generations? what price do you put on family history?

i wouldnt talk to the fmailies either, they are a ball of emotion-driven "gime-gimme's. they want it all for free, and think he should just donate his land for no better reason than some people died on it. sure, it was a noble cause, but not enough to toss a nest egg away (if it was a nest egg) the NPS is an entity, and will treat it like a business transaction, which it is, as opposed to the families that treat it like a right.

 

[Demon-Xanth]

For the people saying "land is selling for $X elsewhere near there". That was land that people WANTED to sell. This guy's life and livelihood were established on that plot. He doesn't want to give it up. It's clear that he has done alot out of his own pocket for that land. The reason why he probably doesn't want to talk to the families is because all they're going to do is scream and yell saying he should just pack up his house and start his life over with absolutely nothing. The government is atleast going to think of his worth and actually has a chance of paying close to what it's worth.

If someone got into a wreck infront of your house and offered you $10,000 to move out wanting to make the entire block a memorial, you'd probably tell them to get stuffed.

 

[Miramonti]

Heck, I'll pay $1 million if it already has broadband. 😛

273 acres??? dayum! :thumbsup:

 

[TheVrolok]

I'm with the land owner here. Maybe a bit high at 10 mill, but man, that's his land.

 

[dullard]

Originally posted by: Demon-Xanth
If someone got into a wreck infront of your house and offered you $10,000 to move out wanting to make the entire block a memorial, you'd probably tell them to get stuffed.

If someone offered twice what my house was worth, I'd take it in an instant. He is asking at least 4x if not more. There is a point to where the premium just becomes just greed.

He is fully within his rights to decline bad offers. But if he makes a big fuss and declines great offers with a significant premium, watch the government just take it for next to nothing. I won't be crying for him.

 

[Feldenak]

Originally posted by: dullard

Originally posted by: Demon-Xanth
If someone got into a wreck infront of your house and offered you $10,000 to move out wanting to make the entire block a memorial, you'd probably tell them to get stuffed.

If someone offered twice what my house was worth, I'd take it in an instant. He is asking at least 4x if not more. There is a point to where the premium just becomes just greed.

He is fully within his rights to decline bad offers. But if he makes a big fuss and declines great offers with a significant premium, watch the government just take it for next to nothing. I won't be crying for him.

Maybe he doesn't want to sell and wanting $10 million is a way to tell them to get bent?

 

[Flyback]

Originally posted by: TruePaige
Watch them abuse eminent domain to take it from him.

That'd be good. All eyes on them doing it and more people would learn about how corrupt eminent domain is. A high-profile case or two is all it would take to get more people up in arms and angry. (or maybe not)

 

[waggy]

Originally posted by: Feldenak

Originally posted by: dullard

Originally posted by: Demon-Xanth
If someone got into a wreck infront of your house and offered you $10,000 to move out wanting to make the entire block a memorial, you'd probably tell them to get stuffed.

If someone offered twice what my house was worth, I'd take it in an instant. He is asking at least 4x if not more. There is a point to where the premium just becomes just greed.

He is fully within his rights to decline bad offers. But if he makes a big fuss and declines great offers with a significant premium, watch the government just take it for next to nothing. I won't be crying for him.

Maybe he doesn't want to sell and wanting $10 million is a way to tell them to get bent?

he is going to lose the land one way or another. they will either use ED and take it and pay him like $300k (wich i think they are trying. with the lowball offers) or he is going to get a few million.

i expect them to offer him 6-7 million. i really hope it does not come to ED.