>The Home Depot offered $1 million no questions asked. But
>the city bought it for $2.4 million. I thought someone said
>it was bought for a dollar or something like that.
Okay, we don't need a full title search, but I think there should be more precise attention to which parcels of land you are talking about. My recollection is that there were two separate parcels the family owned and had disputes with the city over developing.

The city would not grant an access easement and the value of the parcel to any developer would be affected by that.