Top Considerations for Property Acquisition by Public Agencies
When acquiring private property for public projects, public agencies must balance costs, construction timelines, and the legal rights and needs of owners and occupants. This article details some of the top considerations agencies should consider when acquiring property, with the goal of amicable resolution without the need for eminent domain litigation.
SMW Attorney Heather Minner Joins the Bay Area Ridge Trail Council Board of Directors
Congratulations to SMW partner Heather Minner for joining the Board of Directors for the Bay Area Ridge Trail Council. The Council works to plan, promote and sustain a connected hiking, cycling, and equestrian trail on the ridgelines around San Francisco Bay. Together with its partners, the Council has dedicated over 400 trail miles, linking people, […]
New Rent for Letterman Digital Arts Campus at Presidio
Andrew Schwartz, Of Counsel with the firm, and Julie Dolinsek, one of the firm’s paralegals, assisted the Presidio Trust in the reappraisal of the ground rent for the Letterman Digital Arts Center Campus at the Presidio.
SMW Attorney Teaches Land Use Law at UC Berkeley School of Law
SMW Partner Andrew Schwartz taught Land Use Law at UC Berkeley School of Law for the Spring Semester 2021-2022 and will repeat the class Spring Semester 2022-2023. Mr. Schwartz also teaches Land Use Law at Stanford Law School.
Coastal Open Space Protected in Half Moon Bay
Catherine Engberg, a partner at SMW and City Attorney for Half Moon Bay, led a team of SMW lawyers to acquire nine vacant lots on a bluff overlooking the California coast for the City’s open space program.
SMW Attorney Teaches Land Use Law at Stanford Law School
SMW partner Andrew Schwartz is once again teaching Land Use Law at Stanford Law School for the fall quarter 2021-2022. The course focuses on the pragmatic (more than theoretical) aspects of contemporary land use law and policy, including the tools and historical/legal foundation of modern land use law; zoning and General Plans; the process of land development; affordable housing; growth […]
SMW Attorneys Lead Negotiation to Acquire Property for Bus Operations and Maintenance Facility
SMW guided the Marin County Transit District in its successful negotiation to purchase property for a bus operations and maintenance facility. The public agency provides public transit and paratransit services throughout Marin County. The new District-controlled facility will incentivize competition for service operations contracts, reduce cost uncertainty, and reduce or minimize overall growth in operating costs for the public […]
Complex Construction Project Negotiations
The firm is assisting the Transbay Joint Powers Authority (TJPA) in negotiations with an adjoining landowner to relocate the ventilation system for the underground levels of the Salesforce Transit Center to accommodate a high rise building project adjacent to the Transit Center. Funds received will support construction of the train tunnel connecting Caltrain and High […]
SMW Aids in the Acquisition of Land Planned for New Park
SMW attorneys supported the City of Cupertino in its acquisition of more than 7 acres of land planned for a park. Cupertino’s purchase of the property is a critical step in a more than 10-year effort to provide additional parks and recreation areas on the east side of the City.
SMW Helps Launch Affordable Senior Housing Project in Redwood City
The firm assists Midpen Housing Corporation in 2019 to secure land exchange agreements between the state, Redwood City, and private owners necessary to develop the Arroyo Green project, bringing 117 affordable senior housing units to downtown Redwood City.