Lege to UT: No Hotel on the Drag
By Phillip Martin
Sunday night, the House passed Amendment #13 by Rep. Oliveira (D-Brownsville), which says that eminent domain may not be used to aquire land "for a lodging facility or for parking or a parking structure...if the land has been used for the same commercial purpose for at least 20 years." The amendment goes on to say that it does not include dorms or student housing facilities, only hotels.
During explanation of the amendment, which passed unanimously and without objection, Rep. Oliveira mentioned that his amendment was specifically for UT. Rep. Dukes (D-Austin) and Rep. Keel (R-Austin) both signed onto the amendment, and no member of the House rose to speak against it.
The amendment was placed on Senate Bill 62, the enacting legislation for eminent domain which will most certainly pass both chambers. So, unless the Senate strips this amendment or unless the final version of the bill does not pass both chambers before the special session ends on Wednesday, it looks like there will be no hotel for UT.
Posted by Phillip Martin at July 17, 2005 06:34 PM
| TrackBack
I'm excited about Player's getting to stay, but what about those businesses on MLK who already had to relocate? IT Copy, and one or two others... it kinda seems like they got the shaft here.
Oliveira, a first cousin of Carlos, said he submitted the amendment after observing the frustration of Player's owners in their struggle to preserve the restaurant. -from the Daily Texan
