Kelo v. City of New London, 545 U.S. 469 (2005),
[1] was a case decided by the
Supreme Court of the United States involving the use of
eminent domain to transfer land from
one private owner to another private owner to further economic development. In a 5–4 decision, the Court held that the general benefits a community enjoyed from economic growth qualified private redevelopment plans as a permissible "
public use" under the
Takings Clause of the Fifth Amendment.
The case arose in the context of
condemnation by the city of
New London, Connecticut, of privately owned
real property, so that it could be used as part of a “comprehensive redevelopment plan.” However, the private developer was unable to obtain financing and abandoned the redevelopment project, leaving the land as an undeveloped empty lot.
[2]
