By Maria Polletta | The Arizona Republic
To Mesa planners, the northwestern corner of Country Club Drive and Main Street is a key entryway into the city’s downtown.
To Randy Bailey, owner of the lone building on that corner, it’s a piece of his family’s legacy.
Bailey took over the longstanding Bailey’s Brake Service from his father in 1995, just a few years before going head-to-head with the city in an ugly eminent-domain battle that became a national symbol of government overreach.
Mesa’s attempted land grab was shot down on appeal, and the city had to put a 10-year stop to general redevelopment efforts on the corner.
“I love hearing development might occur for Rnady Bailey based on his choice and not a governmental mandate. Interesting side note: In 1999, we took on a case for The Brower family to save the oldest tavern in Scottsdale, the Coach House, from condemnation by the city for redevelopment purposes to a strip center.
“We were able to rally the community to support the Browers and the city council reversed its decision to condemn the land. Shortly after that, I got a call from Randy Bailey telling me Mesa was in the condemnation for redevelopment game on his land and asked for our help.
“I had just met Clint Bolick who had moved to Phoenix to start the Institute for Justice western offices, and he mentioned he was on the look out for a great case to fit its private property rights mission. I referred Randy to Clint, and the Institute for Justice achieved a win that ultimately led to protection of property rights in Arizona.”
~ Rose Law Group Founder, CEO Jordan Rose
