The facts at issue in Elpa Builders, Inc. v. State of New York are relatively straightforward.  The property owner (the “Owner”) owned a 53,645-square-foot parcel of property (the “Property”) along New York State Route 347 (“Route 347”) in the Town of Smithtown.  The Property is improved with a commercial building and is subject to a long-term ground lease with Taco
Continue Reading Property Owner’s Request for Court-Determined Just Compensation Backfires

The history of convenience stores in the United States can be traced back to 1927, when an employee of the Southland Ice Company in Dallas, Texas, realized that people needed a place where they could buy basic necessities after other stores had closed.  The employee decided to sell items such as milk, bread, eggs and cheese from within his ice
Continue Reading Modern Convenience Stores Restricted by “Inconvenient” Zoning Rules