NEW YORK, NY February 22, 2005 —The US Supreme Court will hear arguments today in a Connecticut case that involves eminent domain where the government seized property for economic development. And some opponents of two controversial projects in New York City will be watching the case very closely.

Attorney Norman Siegel filed a "friend of the court" brief on behalf of opponents of a proposed basketball arena in Brooklyn, and of Columbia University's expansion plans in Morningside Heights.

SIEGEL: I, for one, am one of those people who believe eminent domain has run amok throughout America and in New York State, and I'm cautiously optimistic that the US Supreme Court took this case in order to narrowly define what public use means.

Siegel says, if the Supreme Court agrees with the Connecticut families who oppose the city of New London's seizure of their homes for a hotel and convention center, it could hamper the arena and the university expansion plans.

A Columbia University spokesperson says it will not speculate on the outcome of the case.

For WNYC, I'm Amy Eddings.