Stories / Property
ASU sues to seize a 124-year-old downtown Phoenix home
With Board of Regents approval, ASU filed an eminent domain suit to take the 1902 Louis Emerson House, the last parcel it wanted for a new medical school campus. The 89-year-old owner rejected offers of $190,000 and later $999,000, saying neither would cover moving the house, and a petition to save it began circulating.
The longtime tenant called the plan gut-wrenching, and a local historian said the house predates Arizona statehood. The lawsuit says the Regents told ASU to keep negotiating behind the scenes.
ASU's side / contextASU said it made several purchase offers that were not accepted.
Update: ASU later dropped the case →
