Court Opinion

ID: 9885045
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-10-06 03:28:22.654263+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:48:43.462929
License: Public Domain

CRIPPEN, Judge,
dissenting.
There is ample reason to conclude that proper street use now includes skyways which cross a street to join two buildings. This case poses a very different problem, the matter of a second floor skyway constructed along the right-of-way and adjoining the entire side of an adjoining building. In these circumstances, there is a taking by the public authority of respondent’s easements of air, light, and view. The current march of human progress cannot go forward without just compensation for the owners of property taken for public use. Minn. Const. Art. I, § 13.
The precedent established by our decision in this case poses a serious threat to the property interests of those who own land adjoining a public right-of-way. Undoubtedly, the private interest may be more evident in some cases than in others. Our decision here would justify a block-long skyway at the second story level running across the entire set of second story windows on a newly constructed office building. It is evident that the owner has lost property due to an improvement which should not be classified as a proper street use.
I respectfully dissent.