Atlantic City Piano Player Fights Seizure Of Property Through Eminent Domain
By Cleve Bryan
ATLANTIC CITY, NJ (CBS) – Well known Atlantic City piano tuner Charlie Birnbaum expects to win another round in his battle against an agency that wants to take his family's property by eminent domain.
Since announcing plans in 2012 to redevelop the Inlet section of Atlantic City, the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority has been trying to acquire the Birnbaum's property, which is a block north of the former Revel Casino.
His parents, Holocaust survivors, bought the 3-unit building a block from the beach in 1969, at a time when Charlie and his mother were both suffering from depression.
"My parents made the decision to buy the property in 1969, and for the family it was a new beginning," says Birnbaum.
In August 2015 Atlantic County Superior Court Judge Julio Mendez ruled that the CRDA could not take Birnbaum's property under eminent domain because it couldn't supply adequate plans for redeveloping it.
The CRDA was given 180 days to come back with more evidence, which is when Birnbaum was back in court on Tuesday.
Mendez is not expected to offer a decision for several weeks but Robert McNamara, a senior attorney for the Institute of Justice, which is helping the Birnbaums, doesn't think anything will change.
"Fundamentally the CRDA's approach is that they want to take Charlie's place, knock it down and then think really hard about what might go there instead. That's just not enough," said McNamara after court.
A spokesperson for the CRDA says they have no comment.