(a) The authority may acquire by eminent domain any property, real or personal, which it may deem necessary to carry out the purposes of this article, after the adoption by it of a resolution declaring that the acquisition of the property described therein is in the public interest and necessary for public use. The authority may exercise the power of eminent domain pursuant to the provisions of Title 18. Property already devoted to a public use may be acquired; provided, that no property belonging to any city within the boundaries of the authority, or to any government, may be acquired without its consent, and that no property belonging to a public utility corporation may be acquired without the approval of the Public Service Commission or other body having regulatory power over such corporation.
(b) Notwithstanding subsection (a), a public housing authority in a Class 3 municipality, except a Class 3 municipality organized under Act 618 of the 1973 Regular Session, shall not exercise the power of eminent domain except with approval of the governing body of the municipality. The authority may purchase real property only after notice of intent to purchase the property is given to surrounding property owners as provided herein. Notice of the proposed purchase in the Class 3 municipalities, except a Class 3 municipality organized under Act 618 of the 1973 Regular Session, shall be published in a newspaper of general circulation in the municipality for a period of three consecutive weeks prior to execution of any binding agreement to purchase the property.