What is the difference between a public use and a public interest?

In Virginia, the eminent domain laws are based on the idea that the government has the right to acquire private property for public use and public interest. The differences between these two concepts can be confusing, even for experienced attorneys. Public use is when the government acquires private property for public projects such as constructing roads, bridges, and dams. In this case, the property must be used for a public purpose and cannot be acquired for the benefit of a particular interest or for private use. Additionally, the public must have need of the property itself, not just the property’s value. Public interest is when the government acquires private property for the purpose of economic development, which is often done to generate revenue or create jobs. In this case, the government can acquire the property for its value, not necessarily for a public need. For instance, if the government needs the property to build a stadium for a professional sports team, it can acquire the value of that property to generate revenue and create jobs. In summary, the difference between public use and public interest is that in public use, the government acquires private property for direct public need, whereas in public interest, it is for economic development or to generate revenue.

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What is the difference between a public use and a public interest?

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