Because buying them would push up the price, especially once the sellers realized the motive. If they could really buy them all for $600,000 &#x2F; each they probably would.<p>Nevertheless, having the government compulsorily aquire and  compensate previous owners in an orderly fashion, where they all get the same compensation instead of being able to push up the price by holding out is a wonderful solution to this kind of problem.<p>It would be great to see this happen more in the US, taxi medallions and rent regulation are obvious areas where just compensating the current beneficiaries as a one-off, then opening up the market would do everyone a world of good.