Section 5-343. Power to condemn excess lands

The city, in acquiring real
  property for any improvement, may acquire more  real  property  than  is
  needed  for  the  actual  construction of the improvement. The mayor may
  authorize the city to acquire additional  real  property  in  connection
  with any improvement, and direct that the same be acquired with the real
  property  to  be  acquired  for  the  improvement.  Such additional real
  property, however, shall be not more than sufficient  to  form  suitable
  building  sites  abutting  on  the improvement. The title which the city
  shall acquire to additional real property shall in every case be  a  fee
  simple  absolute. Additional real property shall be acquired by the city
  in connection with a street improvement only when the title acquired for
  the improvement shall be in fee. When the mayor  shall  have  authorized
  the  acquisition of title to additional real property in connection with
  an improvement, title to such additional real property shall be acquired
  by the city in the manner and according to the procedure, except in such
  respects as in this subchapter set forth, provided for  the  acquisition
  of  title  to  the real property required for the improvement and in the
  same proceeding in which title to the real  property  required  for  the
  improvement  shall  be  acquired;  except  further that such acquisition
  shall be made in compliance  with  the  appropriate  provisions  of  the
  eminent domain procedure law.