PIGEON FORGE, Tenn. – The City of Pigeon Forge has issued a statement following the eviction of an Ohio family’s second home, citing eminent domain rights.
Doug and Mika Race, the homeowners, had released videos on YouTube documenting their dispute with the city, claiming that their property was unfairly seized to facilitate the expansion of the Westside Connector, a project aimed at easing traffic on Pigeon Forge’s Parkway.
The city officials presented a contrasting narrative. They stated that the Races had bought the property for $306,000 as a rental investment, and it was revalued at $489,665. The city initially offered the Races $490,000, but the family countered with a $3 million request.
The negotiations continued with multiple offers and counter-offers between the city and the family. Eventually, the city increased its offer to $539,000, which the Races rejected, countering with a $1.5 million demand.
“The City was sympathetic to the Races’ financial obligations to the property, and in the interim, the Races could have offered the property as an overnight rental, as was their original intent, to derive and collect income from the property,” the city’s statement explained. “The Races declined.”
These discussions had been ongoing since March 2023. Ultimately, because the Races chose not to rent out the property, the city ordered them to vacate and seized the property after their departure.
It’s noteworthy that plans for the Westside Connector, which involved running the road through the Races’ property, were presented and approved at a City Commission meeting in November 2021. The Races purchased the home later in August 2022.
The complete city statement emphasized the need for the Westside Connector, sharing details from a public meeting on October 26, 2021, where the path of the road was discussed with residents. The city’s efforts to negotiate with the Races began in March 2023, involving appraisals and financial offers to the family.
After prolonged negotiations, the city filed a petition for condemnation of the property on January 12, 2024. The case proceeded through the court, and in early May, the Races agreed to vacate, allowing the city to take possession. The court arranged payment to settle the property’s mortgage.
Eminent domain cases often involve complex negotiations and legal proceedings, reflecting the city’s efforts to balance development needs and property owner rights.