Judge Blocks Town’s Land Grab | Providence News

Providence News Today | 2 Min News | The Daily News Now! · Jul 29, 2026 · 1m

A federal judge just blocked the Town of Johnston from seizing over thirty acres of land via eminent domain, ruling they failed to follow proper legal procedures. The town, relying on its home rule charter, tried to halt an affordable housing project to build a municipal campus—but the judge made clear that eminent domain requires strict adherence to established rules, including fair compensation. This is a major win for the Santoro family, who’ve had their property protected by injunction for over a year. While this part of the case is settled, the broader lawsuit continues. The mayor vows…