The City of St. Augustine is moving to seize access rights to two private properties through eminent domain, a legal step expected to cost more than $427,000, according to a newly released city report.
The dispute centers on easements needed for the city’s Lake Maria Sanchez Flood Mitigation and Drainage Improvement Project, which aims to protect downtown neighborhoods from chronic flooding.
While most affected homeowners have voluntarily granted access to their properties, two residents—one on Marine Street and another on Hedrick Street—have refused.
As first reported by The Citizen, the city filed a lawsuit in June invoking its eminent domain powers.
The legal action allows the city to initiate a “quick-take” process, enabling it to begin construction before a final compensation amount is determined in court.
The city’s quarterly report outlines the financial implications of the eminent domain action.
It estimates the projected cost of acquiring the necessary easements and associated legal expenses to be $427,399.
The city’s petition asserts that it made “good faith” efforts to negotiate easements with the two property owners, including an 82-year-old man with a life estate on Hedrick Street and a 68-year-old woman who owns the Marine Street parcel.
City officials argue the easements are critical for constructing key infrastructure, including a seawall, stormwater pump station, and outfall improvements. These upgrades are designed to reduce persistent flooding near Lake Maria Sanchez.
If the court grants the quick-take request, the city would gain immediate access to the properties while compensation is later determined through trial.
