Black Mansion: Grimmauld Square Redevelopment.

[Steve]

--- In HPFGU-OTChatter at yahoogroups.com, udder_pen_dragon
<udderpd at y...> wrote:
> 
> 
> Steve <bboy_mn at y...> wrote:

> One of two things typically happen to neighborhoods like this.
> 
> First ... Given how rundown the Grimmauld Place neighborhood is,
> it's likely candidate (for redevelopement). Once real estate 
> developers discover an old neighborhood that has potential, they 
> usually move in, buy up everything, kick the people out, and convert
> the basic flats to fancy townhomes and condos ...
> 
> Some one told me Docklands area of London was like this, ...
> 
> The alternative, and this usually happens when the land developer
> can prove that the buildings have no real historical significants,
> is to level the whole block and turn it into a mini-mall or other 
> commercial building. So, do you think they would develop right over 
> 12 Grimmauld Place without even noticing it, or do you think this 
> would cause problems big time for both the muggles and the Ministry?
> 
> Just one of those crazy thoughts that popped into my head.
> 
> bboy_mn


> Udder_P_D here
> 
> Property developers in the UK can not just move in and buy
everything, it generally would take years and without the consent of
the of the owners they would have a problem especially if said owners
could do memory charms.
> 
> Udder Pendrogon


bboy_mn:

Perhaps things are different in London, but most cities are eager to
redevelop old rundown neighborhoods because old run down neighborhoods
are an eyesore and a blight on the community. Plus, and this is very
important, old rundown property isn't worth much, so the TAX revenue
is very low on them. 

However, if the land is redeveloped, the city can substantial increase
the taxes they can collect. As a consequence, cities are usually more
eager to cooperate with developers than they are interested in
protecting the interests of the low rent/low tax/low income residents
who are currently living there. 

In addition, the redevelopment of the land and buildings means many
many jobs which is always good for government. 

The only exception, which I did note, is that in a city like London,
nearly every building has the potential for historical status by
virtue of nothing other than age. However, if the original buildings
are going to be remodeled in a way that doesn't atler the general
architecture, the government will usually side with the developers. Or
if the government can convince itself that a greater 'greater good'
can be served by tearing the old buildings down, than can be gained
from their historical significants, then the building usually come down.

In addition, there appears to be only ONE hidden magic house around
Grimmauld Square, and there are no living members left of the family
who owns that one house. Given the fact that it is hidden, government
and land developers could make plans for redevelopment without even
realizing that 12 Grimmauld Place existed. The occupants of 12
Grimmauld Place would probably be unaware of the redevelopment until
the very day that the bulldozers showed up, and then, magic or no
magic, it would be too late.

So with the government backing the developers, and eager for the jobs,
income, and tax revenue, the current muggle owners would be encouraged
to cooperate. In addition, I suspect the owners of the muggle building
would be eager to sell for substantial hard cash rather than expensive
repairs or low rents.

One more thing, in the USA, if the city and the developers are not
getting cooperation from the landlords, they have the power to condem
the property and seize in under the right of 'eminent domain' which
gives the government the right to seize private property for the
public good. The owners do have to be compensated for the property but
it's usually a low ball payment. They are paid for the value of the
property 'as is', rather than the potential and substantially higher
value of the property as prime development real estate. 

This brings up another stategy that governments use to force people to
sell their land. They increase the taxes to what they consider the
value of the land IF it was redeveloped, and that makes the taxes far
too high for slum lords to pay. So they have no choice but to sell.

Regardless of the circumstance, governments are usually very
cooperative in redeveloping old neighborhoods that once were grand but
now are seen as eyesores.

My basic question was regarding people's speculations about how this
possibility is dealt with. 

Under some circumstances, for isolated buildings, anti-muggle or
muggle repelling charms could be used, but I don't think that would
work on a whole neighboorhood square when most of the houses are
muggle houses.


I was just curious.

bboy_mn