'Guaranteed trial by jury': Hoover man fighting his Exit 9 property buyout offer
James Robertson chose his property on Hoover鈥檚 Old Section Road to raise a family in 1969.
鈥淭he property itself probably means nothing. It's just soil. But the memories,鈥� Robertson said.
It's those priceless memories that are forcing him to push back against Hoover's new exit project.
ALDOT has told him they need two-thirds of his property for the interchange, but he's not sure why.
鈥淲ho concocted that they would need my land? They can't even tell me,鈥� Robertson said.
For his 2.5 acres, home, pool and everything on his property, ALDOT is willing to pay Robertson $500,000.
He argues that his home of the last half century is worth more.
鈥淚 told him he was like Rip Van Winkle, he must have gone to sleep in the 60s and early 70s, because none of that stuff matches today's price,鈥� he said.
Robertson showed us a sheet where he highlighted what he thinks his home and other buildings are truly worth, which would almost double ALDOT鈥檚 offer.
So, if they offered him close to $1 million, would he take it?
鈥淣o, why should I? Why should I back out and give them the okay to go ahead and let them blow $100-$110 million that they should not be spending?鈥� Robertson asked.
He plans to fight his buyout in court.
鈥淕uaranteed trial by jury,鈥� Robertson said.
That is, unless he receives direction from President Donald Trump or Gov. Kay Ivey.
鈥淚f she calls me in the morning. Sir James Robertson, we really need that land. And we need it for this, and I would say yes, ma鈥檃m,鈥� Robertson said.
An ALDOT regional engineer said Robertson will be able to challenge their property value assessment in Jefferson County Probate Court.