The City of Pigeon Forge has issued a statement regarding the acquisition of an Ohio family’s second home through eminent domain.
Doug and Mika Race, the family involved, documented their struggle with the city in a series of YouTube videos, claiming that the city unfairly took their home to extend the Westside Connector, aimed at reducing traffic congestion on Pigeon Forge’s Parkway.
The city’s statement provides a different narrative. Officials stated the property, which the Races purchased for $306,000 as a rental, was revalued at $489,665, and they offered the family $490,000. The Races countered with a $3 million offer.
Negotiations continued, with the city eventually increasing their offer to $539,000, which the Races countered with $1.5 million. According to the city, since the Races did not use the property as an overnight rental, the city ordered them to vacate the premises and seized the property.
The city also noted that plans for the Westside Connector, including the route through the Races’ property, were approved in a City Commission meeting in November 2021. The Races bought the home several months later, in August 2022.
The city’s statement explained that the city has endured numerous accusations and diligently attempted to reach a financial resolution over the past eight months. The Westside Connector project has been aimed at providing an alternative traffic route for over 30 years, and the city held multiple public meetings and notices to discuss the route.
The statement detailed that Pigeon Forge city staff had been in discussions with the Races since March 2023 to negotiate the property’s purchase and provide compensation. Despite multiple offers and counteroffers, a financial resolution proved unattainable, leading to court action.
The city filed a petition for condemnation of the property on January 12, 2024, and eventually arranged for the Races to vacate by June 6, 2024. On July 10, the city attorney received a motion to utilize deposited funds to pay off the Races’ mortgage, which the city did not oppose.
Eminent domain remains a challenging but necessary process, according to the city’s statement.