(a) Within a reasonable time after its approval of the redevelopment plan as provided in section 8-127, the redevelopment agency may proceed with the acquisition or rental of real property by purchase, lease, exchange or gift. The redevelopment agency may acquire real property by eminent domain with the approval of the legislative body of the municipality and in accordance with the provisions of sections 8-129 to 8-133, inclusive, and this section, except that a redevelopment agency that acquires real property by eminent domain pursuant to a redevelopment plan under this chapter shall approve the acquisition in accordance with section 8-127a. The legislative body in its approval of a project shall specify the time within which real property is to be acquired, except as provided in sections 8-193 and 32-224, and such time for acquisition may be extended by the legislative body in accordance with section 48-6, upon request of the redevelopment agency, provided the owner of the real property consents to such request.

(b) Real property may be acquired prior to the adoption or approval of the project area redevelopment plan, provided the property acquired shall be located within an area designated on the general plan as an appropriate redevelopment area or within an area whose boundaries are defined by the planning commission as an appropriate area for a redevelopment project, and provided such acquisition shall be authorized by the legislative body. The redevelopment agency may clear, repair, operate or insure such property while it is in its possession or make site improvements essential to preparation for its use in accordance with the redevelopment plan.

(1949 Rev., S. 982; 1955, S. 486d; November, 1955, S. N31; 1957, P.A. 13, S. 54; P.A. 91-398, S. 4, 7; P.A. 07-141, S. 7.)

History: P.A. 91-398 added provisions requiring that approval by a legislative body of project under Sec. 8-127 specify time limit for acquiring property; P.A. 07-141 divided existing provisions into Subsecs. (a) and (b), amended Subsec. (a) to add exception that acquisition by eminent domain be approved in accordance with Sec. 8-127a, add “except as provided in sections 8-193 and 32-224”, and delete “under section 8-127” re approval and “hereinbefore”, and substituted “prior” for “previous” in Subsec. (b), effective June 25, 2007, and applicable to property acquired on or after that date.

Cited. 141 C. 135. Acquisition of property must be for a public purpose and decision of condemnor, while conclusive, is open to judicial review as to abuse of power. 146 C. 237. Redevelopment agency has no right to acquire riparian rights by eminent domain under section prior to legal adoption of general redevelopment plan. 148 C. 517. Redevelopment agency not authorized to take property already devoted to public use. 155 C. 202. Damages for loss of a business cannot be included in damages, but could affect valuing of property in eminent domain proceedings. 158 C. 37. Cited. 160 C. 492; 201 C. 305.

Cited. 1 CA 20.