ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. -- The city has now passed a resolution opposing a state House bill that would give a school eminent domain powers.
A bill before the Florida legislature could give the Florida School for the Deaf and Blind in St. Augustine the power of eminent domain, which enables the school to buy any property it wants without the owner's consent.
The school is surrounded by historic neighborhoods and on one side, along San Marco Avenue, a commercial area.
One man is surrounded by the campus.
James Register owns the only house on Genoply street. FSDB buildings and school-owned empty lots are on every side of his home.
The school wants to build dorms on one of the large empty lots next to him. Register said the school has offered to buy his property before.
The last offer, he said, was in 2003 for $146,000.
However, there was a problem with the title and the sale did not go through. He said the title issue has been cleared up, and he is willing to sell the property.
Register does not want to be blocked-in or fenced-in like the rest of the school currently is.
"Will they give me a key to get into my own property?" he wondered.
He wants $200,000 for his property.
"Because that would be, to me, a reasonable price for me to relocate, to get a mobile home or another house," Register explained.
However, within the past month Register said the school's president told him the school doesn't want his land.
"He said they are not interested in buying my property. They will build around me," Register recalled.
FSDB President Daniel Hutto, via email, told First Coast News the school is "not negotiating at this time."
As for the proposed state law giving the FSDB power of eminent domain, Hutto said, "FSDB's top priority is our students. Our mission is to serve the educational needs of our deaf/hard-of-hearing and blind/visually impaired students across the entire state and we sincerely appreciate Rep. Proctor's continued efforts for the school, its students and staff throughout the years."
FSDB is the only state school that does not have the power of eminent domain.
Still, Register doesn't want to the school to have that power. He says the school should not have that kind of dominance.
He also added, "They are not good neighbors. They do not discuss things. They more or less go about doing their projects."
Register also fears if the school gains eminent domain power, he won't get the money he wants for his old Florida home.
First Coast News