Kurt Bouwhuis, Mackinac Center Intern.
Havel Park City, Detroit – At the corner of I-75 and 9 Mile, there is a hotel raising concerns with some local residents. The Hotel was condemned by the city in 2005, and put up for bids. Keyesand Vance purchased the hotel and continued to run it. When several small business loan packages failed to materialize, Keyes and Vance were forced to re-negotiate the terms of his contract, leaving it open to a potential buyer. Sure enough, CVS Caremark purchased the hotel in 2008 because of its location.
CVS plans to demolish the hotel and build a new 13,000 square foot pharmacy. CVS is now working with the Hazel Park City to rezone the property to build a new pharmacy to open in 2010. There are numerous citizens opposing the new pharmacy, stating “We don’t need a new drugstore but we do need close, affordable lodging for friends and relatives.”
This story disgusts me in more than one way. First off, who owns the property? The answer is CVS. Why does anyone else have a say in what this property owner does with the property that he/she owns? Well, technically it’s because of the rezoning process CVS is involved in. If the property did not need to be rezoned, these “busy-bodies” would have no methods of influence besides purchasing the property themselves.
I am also curious as to how the citizens know that they need a hotel more than pharmacy? If they truly know this, they need to round up the capital themselves and start their own hotel. Here’s an example that should help illustrate my point. Let’s suppose I purchase a nice car. After a couple years, I lose my job and have to sell the car to make ends meet. After selling it, however, I discover that the man who purchased my car is using it in a demolition derby! Should I, or my friends, have the right to protest against the use of my old car? What if I know the car could be put to better use?
Full article located here
Posted by razma766 
The PRN Blog 