The Public Good

From this BBC news story, I quote:
. . . ruled . . . that the city of New London in Connecticut could seize homes to make way for a hotel, convention centre, office space and flats.
The ruling gave government the right to seize homes for "public benefit", where previously they could only be taken for "public use".

I'm not sure if this is:
(a) based on the capitalist ideal of making more money for the rich, thereby increasing values on the stock market, to the obvious common good.
(b) stolen from the Soviet model.

Perhaps someone can enlighten me.