Gwinnett plans to use eminent domain to take 'Promised Land' property that has belonged to Black family for more than 100 years
Gwinnett County acquired the Maguire-Livsey House, also known as "The Big House," in the Promised Land community six-and-a-half years ago with plans to turn it into a historical park, and
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Gwinnett plans to use eminent domain to take 'Promised Land' property that has belonged to Black family for more than 100 years
Gwinnett County acquired the Maguire-Livsey House, also known as "The Big House," in the Promised Land community six-and-a-half years ago with plans to turn it into a historical park. But now county officials want more land from the Black family that gave them the house — and they're planning to use eminent domain to get it.
The Livsey family acquired the Promised Land property more than a century ago and have been prominent members of the African-American community in south Gwinnett ever since. Thomas Livsey, who is now 93, even holds the title of being the unofficial "Mayor of the Promised Land."
But, the Livsey family is accusing Gwinnett County officials of lowballing them on a price to pay for two adjacent pieces of property next to the Big House and, when the family wouldn't sell, sending them letters saying eminent domain would be pursued instead.
