United States v. 564.54 Acres of Monroe and Pike County Land

At issue in this case is the proper measure of compensation when the Government condemns property owned by a private nonprofit organization and operated for a public purpose. In *508particular, we must decide whether the Just Compensation Clause of the Fifth Amendment1 requires payment of replacement cost rather than fair market value of the property taken.

I

Respondent, the Southeastern Pennsylvania Synod of the Lutheran Church in America, operates three nonprofit summer camps along the Delaware River. In June 1970, the United States initiated a condemnation proceeding to acquire respondent's land…