Not just another eminent domain confrontation story, Edith Macefield “Holdout” on 99% invisible

I thought “Another eminent domain confrontation.", like the thousands that came out of the of “Wise Use movement” that I believe included the Saha property. That land use confrontation forced the City of Coatesville to use up $11 million to defend the the City of Coatesville in court. 

Although the City of Coatesville could have forced the annexation of the Saha’s land using eminent domain, maybe out of fear of violence, they never did. 

But I saw the “Wise Use movement” tactics and rhetoric used at Coatesville City Council meetings. I saw identical intimidation tactics and rhetoric used during the 11 year fight to build the Perkiomen Trail in Montgomery County. 

Instead of annexing the property the City of Coatesville offered increasingly exorbitant amounts for the land that were consistently turned down. I believe the people at the city did not understand that the confrontation concerned a particular political view and no amount of money would have altered that view.

At first I thought I’m not going to listen to this. It’s another right wing extremist property rights story. But I’m glad I did. Edith Macefield’s story has nothing to do with right wing extremism.

Refreshingly, except for offering 10 times what her property was worth for the tiny house that Edith Macefield lived in and misunderstanding the reason that Edith Macefield refused to sell, “Holdout” has nothing to do with "Property Rights" extremist Saha story in Coatesville. 

“The press at the time saw a “David and Goliath’ story of an old woman versus the big, bad developers. 

But there was a much more interesting story of the relationship that evolved between Edith Macefield and the project superintendent, Barry Martin. 

Slowly, Macefield warmed to some of the construction workers on the project, especially Barry Martin, the project superintendent who would check in on her occasionally and drop off business cards, telling her to call if she needed anything. 

She eventually asked Martin to take her to a hair appointment. 

Soon thereafter, Barry Martin began taking Edith Macefield to all of her appointments—and then, because it was easier to coordinate with his schedule, he started making them. 

Spending all of this time together, Martin got to know Macefield well. He learned that she wasn’t mad about the way her community was changing. She wasn’t even mad about the mall they were building more or less on top of her house. On the contrary, she seemed happy to have the company.” 

The story only gets more interesting from there, MORE AT:

 99% invisible Episode 130: Holdout