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Resident urges council review after Board of Viewers awards higher valuation in Bridge Street condemnation case
Summary
A property owner said Phoenixville condemned part of his parcel and later appeals and court rulings found the borough had no legal right-of-way; he reported a Board of Viewers valuation higher than the borough’s payment and said he had not received the money.
Michael Kajek addressed council during public comment on March 11 about a long-running eminent-domain dispute involving 425 Bridge Street. Kajek said the borough previously condemned part of his property, paid $22,000 for roughly 5,700 square feet, and that subsequent legal proceedings found the borough had no legal right-of-way through his property.
"It's been 2 and a half years since the borough of Phoenixville took forcible condemnation of my property," Kajek said. He said a Judge Forzado at Chester County found the borough had no legal right of way and that an appraisal by William Yetke in January 2025 valued the property at $215,000; a Board of Viewers later found $415,000 was owed to him but he has not received payment.
Kajek asked council to review the guidance given to them and consider the Board of Viewers’ findings; he said he believed the borough had appealed the Board of Viewers’ determination and that he had not received the owed funds. He asked council to review its directions in the matter.
Ending: Kajek’s remarks were provided in the second public-comment period; the transcript does not show council taking immediate action or announcing a follow-up schedule during the meeting.
