Monday, February 4, 2002
Florida Department of Transportation v. Armadillo Partners, Inc.
no. 00-1014

Broward County


DOT filed an eminent domain proceeding to take land owned by Armadillo for widening of Griffin Road and improvements to the Davie Road intersection. The taking eliminated a large number of parking spaces on the property, on which the Armadillo Square shopping center stood. Appraisers agreed that the elimination of these spaces and other effects would render the shopping center valueless. This would reduce its value to the purchase price of the raw land minus costs to demolish the center, unless changes were made to "cure" the impact. Different "cure plans" and their costs were presented to the jury, which ultimately awarded Armadillo more than $800,000. The Fourth District reversed.