Electronic billboard scrapped for Old City

A controversial billboard will come out of a project planned for the foot of the Ben Franklin Bridge.  The developer has said it was key to the development of the hotel-retail complex in Philadelphia’s Old City.

 

Councilman Frank DiCicco says he will amend the zoning bill for a hotel project to remove the multi-story electronic billboard that was going to be put on the hotel at 401 Race Street.

 

“The facts speak for themselves, and the facts show the sign will be visible to the residential community.  The developer has said that it would be an important revenue stream to the project, he will have to look for other ways to make up for that loss of revenue,” said DiCicco.

 

Old City residents complained at hearings about the sign, but the developer vowed it would only be visible to commuters crossing the Ben Franklin Bridge.  Councilman DiCicco says the site plan shows that is not the case so he is killing the sign.  The councilman says the amended bill won’t be voted on until next year.