I have had my property "purchased" from me from the state of Washington under the threat of condemnation by eminent domain.
It was no walk in the park and it hurt me financially. The state employees seemed to think it was a game. Large property holders can do much better because of the structure of the laws, I have explained the matter in a previous post. Small holders have a much harder time coming to an equitable agreement with the state, believe me small holders are bullied.

Consider that as distasteful as my encounter was, my property was taken for a highway project. This persons property is being taken by a city, it is currently a parking lot, being taken so as to make a parking lot.