Property Regulation in Bryn Mawr

For those who are interested in popular conceptions of what it means to "own property," there's a robust discussion in the comments to this Philadelphia Inquirer story about what will happen with a mansion in Bryn Mawr.  Can the (unknown) owner of the house known as La Ronda knock it down and put up a McMansion?

To take two examples of the conflicting visions of the Constitution and property:

Does anyone understand the Constitution protects property rights? The preservation group should try to raise money and offer to buy the house, if it is so important! If they succeed, wonderful for them. If they can't, the owner can do what he wants. Preservation groups are the entities with rights, not everyone else? Come on!!

And then there is this rebuttal:

As to notion that property rights allow you to do whatever you want, get real: do they have the right to put a trash-to-steam plant or an oil refinery there? The right to store nuclear waste there or build a 7-11, a go-go bar, or Home Depot? No. If actions on your property come at the expense of others, then we resolve them through our common government (see constitution). The real question is what does the community lose when it loses its historic structures? If the homes/ infrastructure of Bryn Mawr looked the same as those of Moorestown or Cherry Hill - then they would be worth 1/2 their present value. By how much will this damage the unique brand of "Bryn Mawr" and reduce its value? The overall property value of the area is at risk and Bryn Mawr's elected officials have an obligation to protect it.

Al Brophy

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