November 1954
Berman v. Parker (1954)
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled 5-0 that Washington, D.C. could use eminent domain to clear a blighted Southwest neighborhood, including a department store owner's property, to make way for redevelopment. The owner argued his store was not blighted and that seizing it for private redevelopment was unconstitutional.
Then
The court allowed the condemnation, and the neighborhood was cleared and rebuilt.
Now
The ruling established that eliminating blight counts as a public use, giving local governments wide authority to condemn and raze deteriorating buildings.
Why this matters now
Saint Paul's demolition order draws on the same authority. The city can compel an owner to fix or tear down a structure it deems unsafe.