The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Atlanta landowners win $12M in federal lawsuit over Beltline
Land seizures were at Piedmont Heights homes.
A federal judge recently awarded $12 million to several Atlanta landowners after the federal govern- ment took land from the owners six years ago for the Atlanta Beltline, according to the homeowners’ attorneys.
The federal government allowed the Beltline to seize property from 21 landown- ers in 2017, according to a Lewis Rice law firm news release. The firm also said the Beltline sued the landowners in 2017 to remove various encroachments on the trail. The owners lost their state case and were prohibited from any fur- ther use of their property within the former railroad easement.
After the landowners lost in court in 2017, the Beltline went on to use the land to make room for the walking path and planned light-rail transit line, according to Lewis Rice. The land sei- zure occurred at homes located on Flagler Avenue in the intown Pied- mont Heights neighbor- hood across from the Ansley Golf Club.
The landowners later filed a claim for compen- sation in the United States Court of Federal Claims in 2019. In February 2022, a judge ruled the property was illegally taken from residents in violation of the Fifth Amendment.
This month, the Lewis Rice law firm announced on Feb. 16 that the court ruled that $12 million in compensation would be split among the affected landowners.
“These landowners are relieved that they have finally received just compensation for their property that was taken from them,” said attorney Meghan Largent’s statement. “The Beltline may ultimately be a successful urban recreational trail, but it has come at significant cost to these landowners who are hosting it in their backyards.”