SEMINOLE COUNTY, Fla. -- An intersection expansion at S.R. 436 and Redug Lake Road in Seminole County\r
will mean less traffic, but at least 17 homes and four businesses will be forced out.\r
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Tuesday evening, more than 100 residents got a chance to look at the expansion plans that include\r
a left turn flyover from S.R. 436 to Red ug Lake and extra lanes. For some residents, it was a\r
first look at their neighborhood with their homes replaced by a road and retention pond.\r
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""It's kind of sad, you know, after you've been so many years living in a place and you've had to\r
invest all your money and your effort with your family. It's kind of hard,"" said homeowner Manny\r
Mendoza.\r
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Will Collier will also lose his home.\r
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""Supposedly they will take them, pay for our homes and take good care of us, so we'll see,"" he said.\r
Seventeen homes along Red ug Lake Road, along with Comfort Furniture, a Mobil gas station, an office\r
building and the popular Rocky's Replay Arcade will all be forced out because of eminent domain laws.\r
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""One of our clients has been in their house for 18 years, with five children, all their grandkids and\r
to have them locate at the age of 65, whatever compensation can be obtained through this process is\r
never going to be enough to replace that,"" said Prineet Sharma, an attorney for the homeowners.\r
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County officials said road expansion is never easy, but it's needed at the notoriously busy intersection.\r
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Seminole County engineers said they expect to finish the design phase in the spring of 2008. Then they'll\r
spend two years acquiring the necessary properties. They plan to start construction in the summer of\r
2010.\r
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Eminent domain: The power of the state to take private property for public use with payment of\r
compensation to the owner.
Pros: nothing
Cons: smoking
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