(a) An authority has all the powers necessary or convenient to undertake and carry out urban renewal plans and urban renewal projects, including the authority to acquire property by eminent domain or purchase, and to dispose of property, to issue bonds and other obligations, to borrow and accept grants from the federal government or other source and to exercise the other powers which this part confers on an authority with respect to redevelopment projects. In connection with the planning and undertaking of any urban renewal plan or urban renewal project, the authority, the municipality, and all public and private officers, agencies, and bodies have all the rights, powers, privileges, and immunities which they have with respect to a redevelopment plan or redevelopment project, in the same manner as though all of the provisions of this part applicable to a redevelopment plan or redevelopment project were applicable to an urban renewal plan or urban renewal project; provided, that for such purpose, “redevelopment” as used in this part, except in this section and in the definition of “redevelopment project” in § 13-20-202, means “urban renewal”; and provided further, that “slum” and “blighted,” as used in this part, except in this section and in the definitions in § 13-20-201, mean “blighted, deteriorated, or deteriorating.” This section shall not change the corporate name of the authority of the short title of this part or amend any section of this part. In addition to the surveys and plans which an authority is otherwise authorized to make, an authority is hereby specifically authorized to make:
(1) Plans for carrying out a program of voluntary repair and rehabilitation of buildings and improvements; and(2) Plans for the enforcement of laws, codes, and regulations relating to the use of land and the use and occupancy of buildings and improvements, and to the compulsory repair, rehabilitation, demolition, or removal of buildings and improvements.(b) The authority is authorized to develop, test, and report methods and techniques, and carry out demonstrations and other activities, for the prevention and the elimination of slums and urban blight.(c) Whenever the power of eminent domain as herein conferred shall be exercised, in estimating the damages, the jury or jury of view, as the case may be, shall give the value of the land or rights taken without deduction, together with incidental damages, if any. Where the removal of furniture, household belongings, fixtures, merchandise, stock in trade, inventories, equipment or machinery is made necessary by the taking, the reasonable expense of such removal shall be considered in assessing incidental damages. The reasonable expense of the removal of such chattels shall be construed as including the cost of: any necessary disconnection, dismantling or disassembling; the loading and drayage to another location not more than ten (10) miles distant; and the reassembling, reconnecting, and installing in such new location. This provision shall only apply when the power of eminent domain is exercised under this section.
