Alexandria’s sanitation authority is moving forward with plans to develop a new water treatment facility just weeks before a court battle over the proposed site is set to start.
The City Council unanimously approved a special use permit allowing the sanitation authority to develop the treatment facility on land formerly co-owned by local real estate developer Charles Hooff III.
The sanitation authority seized the land from Hooff and the property’s other owners in December 2008 claiming eminent domain rights. But Hooff says the sanitation authority did not pay fair market value for the property.
“We think their appraisal was flawed, and we’re going to say so in court,” Hooff told the Washington Examiner, saying the sanitation authority’s offer of roughly $20 million was millions short of the property’s actual value.
“Based on appraisals and on a variety of other empirical data, the price [paid] really should be in the $40 million range,” Hooff said.
Hooff says three appraisers estimated the land’s worth at between $42 million and $51.5 million. He also says a private development company was preparing to pay $45 million for the property in late 2006, but interference from the sanitation authority spoiled the deal.
A statement issued by the sanitation authority says an independent appraiser estimated the value of the property at $20.4 million, and “as a responsible steward of public funds” the authority will not pay more than that appraised value.
The 10-acre property is near Eisenhower Avenue and the Capital Beltway on the city’s south side. The sanitation authority says the planned treatment facility is needed to comply with new water regulations.
Hoof also says he and the other property owners spent roughly $2.5 million defending the property’s worth against spurious sanitation authority claims meant to devalue the land and force him to sell.
The sanitation authority declined to comment because of the pending lawsuit.
After months of delays, the court battle between the property’s former owners and the sanitation authority is scheduled to begin next month.
“I’m exasperated, but I’m not going to give up,” Hooff said.
