Ceramic Controversy in Central Fresno as city takes possession of family-owned store

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- A years-long conflict implicit eminent domain came to a caput astatine a Central Fresno tile shop, wherever A&T Ceramic crushed to a halt arsenic the City of Fresno took possession.

"I don't cognize however they ain it," Art Terzian told Action News. "I didn't get a reddish penny from them."

Art has owned A&T Ceramic for 40 years, adjacent McKinley and Blackstone Avenues. It is wherever the metropolis is making country for a caller railroad crossing.

The task aims to summation information by lowering the roadway beneath 2 railway crossings astatine an intersection notorious for deaths.

The operation has near the household concern boarded up.

"Right now, we can't operate," Art's son, Tony, said. "We don't person a spot to run from."

Tony was wrong the store connected October 17.

"A lawsuit had conscionable left, and past I noticed immoderate constabulary officers came in, and told america that the City of Fresno wants to alteration the locks, and you request to permission the spot truthful they tin bash that," Tony said.

He showed Action News the locks that were drilled retired and cut. He says the constabulary ordered him retired wrong minutes.

All their tile remains locked inside.

"Over $3 million," Art said astir the worth of his inventory.

"We've offered to wage for his inventory to beryllium moved determination else, and they haven't taken america up connected that," Fresno City Council President Mike Karbassi said.

He confirms officials person made repeated offers, telling Action News they person tried to scope communal crushed with the Terzians for months.

"When you defy and defy and resist, it's going to beryllium a harder process," Karbassi said. "I get wherever he's coming from, but astatine the aforesaid time, determination is simply a nationalist payment from this."

The back-and-forth is present playing retired successful court. The Terzians privation the metropolis to bargain them a caller property.

"Is it implicit now?" Action News asked. "No, it's not," Art said.

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