Department of Highways v. Terrace Land Co.

LANDRY, Judge.

Defendant (Owner) has appealed from a judgment fixing the value of its land expropriated by Plaintiff (Department) for construction of Interstate Highway 10, in East Baton Rouge Parish, near the City of Baton Rouge. The sole issue presented is whether an owner-developer of property best suitable for residential subdivision purposes is entitled to be compensated at the retail value of the land taken, including a developer’s profit, less development costs, or at the amount a purchaser-developer would pay for the land on an acreage basis. The trial court awarded Owner the acreage…