Giant electronic billboards on hold in Philadelphia

Philadelphia City Council has put on hold a bill that would allow the installation of multi-story electronic billboards along Market Street.  Anti-blight groups are against the installations and also a billboard proposed for the foot of the Ben Franklin Bridge.

 

City Councilman Frank DiCicco says the multi-story billboards along Market Street are necessary to revitalize the Market East area.

 

“I’m a proponent of creating signage making a more vibrant and attractive place where people will go to after five o’clock at night,” said DiCicco. ” I’ve said it before, Market Street from 11th to sixth is the dead zone, after 5:30 hardly anybody’s out there.”

 

A second bill allowing construction of an $80 million hotel with a seven-story billboard pointed at the Ben Franklin Bridge was opposed by residents and the group SCRUB.  Mary Tracy represented SCRUB at the council hearing.

 

“I think this sign would be especially distracting because you are looking at a sign that is vertical, seven stories high it talks about full motion animation,” said Tracy.

 

Nearby residents worry the sign will keep them awake by shining into their windows.