Real Estate & Property Law

LAX Modernization Plans

By Alan Ackerman

Los Angeles International Airport, as so many other airports, must deal with the needs for additional or improved runways. Further exacerbating the problem is the need for increased runway protection zones as mandated by the Federal Aviation Administration.

The business owners in the area should not think that this is simply a situation of a greedy airport, rather it is the urgent need for continuing safety in air travel and for the areas surrounding the airport.

Los Angeles Business Journal

The new plan –– which includes proposals such as developing a ground transportation center, constructing an automated people mover and demolishing three terminals –– could cost $5 billion to $10 billion.

Local business leaders said their biggest concern is the proposed reconfiguration of the airport''s North Airfield, which calls for moving at least one runway as far as 400 feet to the north for safety reasons. While the runways would stay within airport boundaries, they said runway protection zones mandated by the Federal Aviation Administration would require an unknown number of Westchester buildings bordering the airport to be seized and demolished under eminent domain.

In effect, it would push LAX into Westchester''s downtown business district, which could force 500 businesses to move or shut down.

Full post as published by National Eminent Domain Blog on November 17, 2010 (boomark / email).