In the past, City officials have frequently stated that eminent domain would not be used for taking privately owned land for the Coney Island development plan.

City officials recently presented an alternative to placing the Gowanus Canal on the Superfund site list under the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The alternative proposal would have the Army Corps of Engineers conduct their own study and clean up of the site but still funded by the federal government.

Some displaced tenants of a building on 92nd and 2nd that was recently evacuated blame their plight on vibrations from nearby subway construction and the Buildings Department’s failure to enforce past violations. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) and the Buildings Department claim that the construction is unrelated.

During a Community Board hearing on the Kingsbridge Armory redevelopment project, several stakeholders including supermarket employees, living wage advocates, construction workers and representatives from the Related Companies expressed their concerns.

A few City Council members requested a delay in voting for the City’s Coney Island development plan after concerns arose during a Zoning Subcommittee public hearing on the project. Much of the concerns involved whether the City would likely use eminent domain to take over privately owned lands that are necessary for the City’s development plan.