§ 13-20-108 — Eminent domain used to acquire land for housing projects and by United States agencies

(a) A housing authority as defined in § 13-20-102 and any corporation, which is an agency of the United States, shall, upon the adoption of a resolution declaring that the acquisition of the property described therein is in the public interest and necessary for public use, have the right to acquire by eminent domain any real property, including improvements and fixtures thereon, which it may deem necessary for a housing project being constructed, operated or aided by it or the United States. Any corporation borrowing money or receiving other financial assistance from the United States or any agency thereof for the purpose of financing the construction or operation of any housing project or projects, the operation of which will be subject to public supervision or regulation, shall have the right to acquire by eminent domain any real property, including fixtures and improvements thereon which it may deem necessary for such project. A housing project shall be deemed to be subject to public supervision or regulation within the meaning of this chapter if the rents to be charged are in any way subject to the supervision, regulation or approval of the United States, the state or any of their subdivisions or agencies, or by a housing authority, city, municipality or county, whether such right to supervise, regulate or approve is by virtue of any law, statute, contract or otherwise. (b) The power of eminent domain hereinabove conferred may be exercised pursuant to either: (1) Title 29, chapter 16; title 29, chapter 17, part 5; and any amendments thereto; or (2) Pursuant to any other applicable statutory provisions, now in force or hereafter enacted, for the exercise of the power of eminent domain. (c) Property already devoted to a public use may be acquired; provided, that no property belonging to any city or municipality or to any government may be acquired without its consent and that no property belonging to a public utility corporation may be acquired without the approval of the commission or other officer or tribunal, if any there be, having regulatory power over such corporation. (d) Whenever the power of eminent domain as herein conferred shall be exercised, in estimating the damages, the jury or jury of view, as the case may be, shall give the value of the land or rights taken without deduction, together with incidental damages, if any. Where the removal of furniture, household belongings, fixtures, merchandise, stock in trade, inventories, equipment or machinery is made necessary by the taking, the reasonable expense of such removal shall be considered in assessing incidental damages. The reasonable expense of the removal of such chattels shall be construed as including the cost of any necessary disconnection, dismantling or disassembling, the loading, and drayage to another location not more than ten (10) miles distant, and the reassembling, reconnecting, and installing in such new location. This provision shall only apply when the power of eminent domain is exercised under this section.

Legislative History

Amended by 2014 Tenn. Acts, ch. 927,s 9, eff. 5/16/2014. Acts 1935 (Ex.Sess.), ch. 20, § 11; 1935 (Ex.Sess.), ch. 44, § 3; C. Supp. 1950, § 3647.10 (Williams, §§ 3647.11, 3647.39); Acts 1965, ch. 191, § 1; T.C.A. (orig. ed.), § 13-807.