Salem Keizer School District filed a complaint for condemnation of real property late last week. The Statesman Journal reports St. Edward Catholic Church refused an offer of $1.75 million to sell a 6-acre vacant lot to Salem-Keizer Public Schools.
The complaint asks for an impaneled jury to determine whether the offer meets the standard of just compensation, and if so, allow the school district to move forward with condemning the parish land.
District officials say they need the lot next to McNary High School because the current setup puts students, pedestrians, bicyclists, drivers and others in danger when entering or exiting the school’s main parking lot.
St. Edward church leaders — who want to keep the land for future parish use — say they have not been offered a fair-market price and say they will fight the district’s use of eminent domain.
