I always like a good article about some person who refuses to give up his property for the whim of some city pipe dream to build some kind of fancy park or other feel good project.

Fred Mitchell stood his ground for years, refusing to sell his house near Johnson Creek for a flood control and parks project.

This week, he waved the white flag—sort of.

Mitchell, who has lived in his three-bedroom house since 1969, finally agreed to sell it to the city for $137,500.

However, under a life-estate agreement approved by the Arlington City Council on Tuesday, Mitchell will be allowed to stay in his house until he dies or chooses to leave.

“I fought them for eight years because I knew what they were doing was wrong,” said Mitchell, 72, a retired Air Force radar technician and former city worker.

Yes, they’re claiming it’s a flood control project, but it’s interesting to note that somehow it got turned into a park.  But nevermind my take on it, consider what Mr. Mitchell said about it.

For years, Mitchell has contended that the corps is using an outdated, 1975 flood plain map that does not accurately show the depth or width of the creek or the areas that might flood.

His small brick house was built in 1959 on the north side of the 700 block of Mitchell Street. The houses across the street that backed up to the creek and those closer to Collins Street have been demolished. Only the arching magnolias and spreading oaks remain on the grassy lots.

“They had no business taking some of those houses,” Mitchell said. “Nobody on this side of the street ever flooded.”

I guess he finally realized that he wasn’t going to be able to hold out forever.  I like his attitude about it, though:

“I’m not going to move,” Mitchell said, “I ain’t got that much longer to go. I might as well stay put.”

While the city ultimately will get the land, they’re not going to be able to force this guy off his property.  I bet this situation is really chapping somebody’s ass down at city hall.  Good.  These petty little local tyrants need to be reminded from time to time that they don’t own the city.