The $48 million payment was a deposit put up by the school district as part of the condemnation process.

Mr. Koch said he spoke to Father Ritter yesterday morning and told him the condemnation process would begin.

"We believe that the condemnation process will move forward expeditiously," he said.

"We have the money from the city to finish the condemnation process," she said.

As the first step in the condemnation process, the authority held a public hearing at its offices at 347 Madison Street.

The condemnation process is expected to start soon.

"We've begun the condemnation process and expect to complete it late this year or early next," the speaker is saying.

The legislators have given what they called their "partners" in the acquisition effort until Oct. 15 to demonstrate a commitment to the condemnation process.

They filed a suit asserting that the condemnation process did not guarantee payments to landowners.

The erratic lot lines left by the condemnation process created little leftover plots.