Could Philly's future rest on more park benches

Philadelphia officials are taking a renewed look at proposals to add street furniture to the city, enhancing the city’s ad placement capability. It could be worth millions to a cash-strapped city.

Philadelphia officials are taking a renewed look at proposals to add street furniture to the city, enhancing the city’s ad placement capability. It could be worth millions to a cash-strapped city.

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The city’s street furniture, including benches and bus shelters, usually display advertising, and that can be sold for millions of dollars. Councilman Darrell Clarke says not having a new deal with a vendor is a missed opportunity. He wants to know when the money can be counted on for the city budget.

Clarke: Advertising revenues across the country are down generally, but this is the one category street furniture where they have sustained their level of commitment or actually in a lot of instances gone up.

A deal was almost finished at the end of the Street administration, and Public Property Commissioner Joan Schlotterbeck says the city is currently reviewing its options.