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Abstract
The Supreme Court eminent domain case Kelo v. City of New London outraged the majority of Americans. The anger was due in part to misunderstandings about the facts and holding of the case. This thesis explores the history and law of eminent domain and the public use requirement for a better understanding of the Kelo holding as a starting point for an examination of the sources of preservationists ambivalence toward the power of eminent domain. While eminent domain can be a powerful tool for preservation-centric developments and the acquisition of endangered properties, it also has left a tragic legacy of demolition of historic buildings in the name of blight remedy. Finally, this thesis examines the potential impact on preservation of post-Kelo statutes from three states: Ohio, Alabama, and Georgia.