Vision Forum Ministries to lose their headquarters due to Eminent Domain?
I received an email this morning from Henry Johnson discussing Vision Forum’s battle with Eminent Domain. While I could not locate anything about this on either the Vision Forum, Inc. or Vision Forum Ministries sites, I was able to find a blog referencing a letter sent to I guess Vision Forum supporters and another website making a plea for help.
See excerpts of the letter sent out by Vision Forum
Public plea for help from FRN
It is public record (PDF download) that the land and building on 4719 Blanco Rd (home of both Vision Forum, Inc. and Vision Forum Ministries) were donated in early 2002 by the Vineyard Foundation.
July 3rd, 2008 at 10:20 am
So how will the city compensate Vision Forum? If quite handsomely, it’s hard to say whether Doug doesn’t want this, or whether it was orchestrated to help out Vision Forum and he is looking forward to it, or even if it wasn’t orchestrated by Vision Forum and he’s still looking forward to it, on account of the potential financial gain.
July 3rd, 2008 at 8:23 pm
I am no expert on eminent domain but I am fairly certain you are offered fair market value. The appraised value is near $1 million, but that doesn’t necessarily the city will pay that amount. The location is supposedly not the best part of town so that will probably factor into any price. Remember that Vision Forum Ministries was in the red for roughly $90,000 after the Jamestown extravaganza so they probably could use the capital. I personally believe he should refund every person who purchased Raising the Allosaur the full retail price and with whatever is left compensate Joe Taylor and all those who actually raised it. Isn’t the biblical standard for theft to return 7 times the amount? That would be a good start.
I don’t believe Doug orchestrated this issue. I do believe however he is purposely playing the persecution card to get sympathy from the greater Christian community.
July 4th, 2008 at 11:37 am
At least they aren’t being evicted. I mean, it would be quite the undertaking, but they could just move elsewhere. I don’t want to sound callous, but it doesn’t seem like the guy is exactly hurting for money. I personally would rather support the truly persecuted brothers and sisters than to fund a legal battle.