Johnston family sues mayor over change in use for land seized by eminent domain

JOHNSTON, R.I. (WLNE) — Johnston Mayor Joseph Polisena, Jr. is facing a lawsuit from a family that owns the 31-acre land plot that the mayor had hoped to use as the site for a to build a new public safety complex.

The family said that the land was originally supposed to be used for lower income housing.

Back in January, the Johnston Town Council used eminent domain to seize the lot on George Waterman Road, after Mayor Polisena said
the town hall and police and fire departments were in dire need of a new home.

Original plans at the location were for a housing project that would create 252 low-income housing units.

The land owners, the Santoro family, are suing the mayor, citing “eminent domain under false pretenses,” as the town had not told them about their plans.

ABC6 has reached out to Mayor Polisena’s office for comment on this matter.