Eisley’s Nursery under eminent domain threat

Anyone who regularly attends national industry events has probably met the Eisley crew. I see Earlene Eisley Freeman on most of the tours I attend. I first made a point of introducing myself because I was sure that with a name like Earlene and her friendly personality, she had to be from Texas (she’s not).

Located in Auburn, California, Eisley’s has been a popular institution in its community for 100 years. Since the family and staff make a point of attending retail tours and seminars, the store benefits from the extra ideas and knowledge. It’s kept clean, customer service is top notch and plants are healthy.

And, I found out when reading a post on The Golden Gecko blog, it has been labeled blighted by a consultant firm hired by the local city council this past spring.

The area near Eisley’s is currently undergoing a development project. The city wanted to expand the area of development by a few hundred acres, so it hired the firm.

The Eisleys, alarmed, started protesting. According to a local newspaper, word got around the community, angry phone calls to the town hall started, and petitioners to block the expansion showed up at the city council meetings in droves.

The city council has said it never intended to use eminent domain on Eisley’s. And when that assurance was not enough to calm the waters, it created a clause that the city could not use eminent domain to acquire a commercial business and turn it over to private developers.

How secure are you?
Even with the clause, it seems to me that Eisley’s is still at risk. How binding is the clause? What type of loopholes could a future council slip through? What security does the garden center have that, if it wished to build new structures or install expensive demonstration gardens, that it would not lose its store before paying off the loans?

Small businesses need to pay close attention to any local authority that has power over it. I know several people in the industry that regularly attend council meetings, some that make a point of befriending the members. Cory Bordine with Bordine Nursery in Michigan once said that he seriously considered running for the council so he could have more power to block rulings that hurt his business.

-- Carol

Comments

[Chris Rowe Martinez]

Although it's not a sure thing, I'm sure glad to hear there has been some action in favor of the nursery. I was heartbroken when I heard they might be pushed out. Best of luck to them in the future!

[Jan Williams]

Earlele,

I am not sure about this typing area, but here is my email. It is weird I know.I am going to ck FeedBlitz a bit.

Jan