An Indiana homeowner has been left outraged after city officials claimed a section of his property for a new roundabout intersection.
Hans Fekkes has lost 15 feet on his piece of land in Indianapolis after construction workers started work last week.
Fekkes was originally offered $9,500 for the parcel of land but turned it down, saying he didn’t agree with the construction.
He has also hit out at the city for refusing to add a privacy fence or a barrier to help car lights from shining into his home, which he has described as his ‘dream home’.
Speaking with WISHTV, Fekkes said: ‘They are starting to do construction without written approval from me, until we negotiate some things, a fence or berm with landscaping to help from lights.’
Fekkes demonstrated the portion of his driveway that the works will take to the outlet.
He added: ‘This is the portion of the cut, where they’re going to take my driveway from here to the street.
‘They’ve got a certain amount of footage that’s eminent domain but they needed more than that, and that’s when they had to purchase it from me.
‘They said this intersection is cheaper to do than a stoplight, and I sure would like someone to explain that to me.’
The lawyer representing Fekkes in his battle against the city claims ‘the land taking is not as much of an issue as the way they are building the roundabout.’
Fekkes said that trucks working on the intersection have crushed his sewer and so far cost him $20,000 in repairs, he described it as an ‘ongoing nightmare’.
The Indianapolis Department of Public Works declined to comment but reiterated their commitment to offering fair compensation based on professional appraisals.
Their message stated the city uses ‘contracted appraisers and court-appointed appraisers, if necessary,’ to ensure fair and reasonable offers.
A $2 million project is underway to improve the area with a new pedestrian walkway and underground stormwater drainage system.
The project is expected to be finished by next summer. A court order was issued to let the city move forward with the construction.
Mayor Joe Hogsett expressed his belief that the new roundabout will significantly improve traffic flow in a neighborhood plagued by congestion during peak hours.