Monreal gets $1.7 million

By Heather Fletcher
News-Herald Staff Writer

A jury decided Eastlake should give a Vine Street business owner $1.7 million for his land, resulting in the city paying nearly $5 million for property to build a minor league baseball stadium.

Wednesday, a jury of eight women unanimously decided to give Bill Monreal the $1.7 million for his 4.5 acres and funeral home on Vine Street.

Monreal was sued by the city in Lake County Common Pleas Court to take his land by eminent domain, a power government can use to get acreage for a public purpose.

Monreal was disappointed in the jury's decision.

"I don't really know what to say," he said. "It sure wasn't what I was hoping for, but we're just going to have to accept the verdict."

Monreal's attorney, Melvyn E. Resnick, was partially pleased.

"I'm happy that we get $1 million more than the city was willing to pay," he said.

Real estate appraiser Julian Vanni, called by Eastlake lawyers to testify, said the land and business were worth about $800,000.

The city had allocated $4 million to buy 28 properties at the southeast corner of Vine Street and SOM center Road and still must buy one home on East 355th Street.

The city plans to build a $15 million stadium at the corner and open it in spring 2003 in an effort to land a Cleveland Indians minor-league baseball affiliate owned by Kip Horsburgh of Gates Mills.

On Sept. 12, the city will sue Dorothy a. and James a. Stockey of 1462 E. 355th St., Eastlake, had offered the couple $184,800 for the house appraised at $168,000.

Before eminent domain entered the picture, Eastlake already had contracts to buy 22 homes and three commercial properties for $3.15 million.

With the Monreal verdict and an earlier eminent domain lawsuit awarding Vine homeowner Richard Reeher $142,000, the city may pay nearly $5 million for property.

Mayor Dan DiLiberto and City Law Director Theodore R. Klammer agree that the city has access to more than $4 million, but declined to name its source or whether the city will tap into that money.

Eastlake is scheduled to make its first payment on the borrowed $4 million in December.

As for the jury award Wednesday, Eastlake officials have not determined whether to appeal. Klammer said the city has 30 days to decide.

"We'll have to sit down and talk about it," Council President William Philipp said.

DiLiberto said he is pleased with the city's position.

"The jury has spoken, and that's what we're going to live with," the mayor said. "But we have to review our options."