Rhode Island family sues town for abusing eminent domain to block affordable housing
March 11, 2025
Johnston, RI; March 10, 2025: A Rhode Island family is taking a stand against the Town of Johnston, Rhode Island’s abuse of eminent domain. Ralph and Suzanne Santoro, Lucille Santoro, and Salvatore Compagnone, filed a lawsuit today to expose the Town’s sham land grab and unconstitutional use of government powers to take the family’s property under false pretenses. In 2023, the State passed a law designed to encourage privately built affordable housing. In response, the Santoro family introduced its plans for a 100% affordable project, that would include 252 low-to-moderate-income units on its 31-acre, residentially-zoned land in Johnston that has long been identified by the Town as a site for affordable housing
But no sooner had they started the Town’s approval process than Johnston Mayor Joseph Polisena, Jr. publicly denounced the plans and vowed to “use all the power of government that I have to stop it.”
On January 27, 2025, the Mayor announced the Town would use eminent domain to seize the property, claiming it was needed for a new municipal campus. Until the Santoro family proposed an affordable-housing project, the Town had never mentioned moving its government services from their current central location to the edge of the town.
“The Constitution forbids using eminent domain under false pretenses. The Town’s claim to be seizing the Santoro family’s land for a new government campus is a sham, when the real reason is it a last-ditch effort to stop the Santoros from building affordable housing,” said Kady Valois, an attorney at Pacific Legal Foundation. “The Town should be honest and transparent about its real reasons for using eminent domain and not lie about why it’s abusing its power to strip owners of their property rights.”
Pacific Legal Foundation (PLF) is representing the Santoro family in a federal lawsuit to uphold property rights and advocate for housing solutions in Rhode Island and beyond.
This case is the latest in PLF’s work protecting the right to build, so that property owners can create much-needed housing across the country.
The case is SCLS Realty, LLC and Sixty Three Johnston, LLC v. Town of Johnston, RI.
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About Pacific Legal Foundation
Pacific Legal Foundation is a national nonprofit law firm that defends Americans threatened by government overreach and abuse. Since our founding in 1973, we challenge the government when it violates individual liberty and constitutional rights. With active cases in 34 states plus Washington, D.C., PLF represents clients in state and federal courts, with 18 wins of 20 cases litigated at the U.S. Supreme Court.