Gross v. City of Pittsburgh

Argued: June 14, 1999 Sol Gross, Trustee for Panther Hollow Corporation, and Panther Hollow Corporation (collectively, Panther Hollow) appeal from an order of the Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County (trial court) denying Panther Hollow's motion for post-trial relief and granting, in part, the City of Pittsburgh's (City) motion for post-trial relief in an eminent domain proceeding. The City has filed a cross appeal. In August 1988, Panther Hollow entered into an agreement of sale with CSX Railroad to acquire twenty-eight acres of land located in the fourth and fourteenth wards of the City for $1,338,750.00. The closing was held on February 3, 1989. The City issued several permits to Panther Hollow with respect to the property; however, on November 9, 1989, the City revoked those permits. (See Appendix 1 at 153a, 175a-76a.) Then, on December 1, 1989, the City placed concrete jersey barriers around the property, rendering the property unusable and inaccessible.