Ban Billboard Blight Protecting the visual environment of Los Angeles

World Wide Rush supergraphic on Wilshire Blvd. ( Photo from June 23, 2010)

Apparently undaunted by a federal appellate court decision upholding the city’s right to ban new off-site and supergraphic signs, attorneys for sign companies have signaled their intention to mount fresh challenges to the ban that has been the subject of almost constant litigation since its original passage eight years ago.

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Posted under Billboards, Michael McNeilly, Outdoor Advertising, Skytag, Supergraphic Signs, Vanguard Outdoor, World Wide Rush

Architect's rendering of Hollywood development with supergraphic signs

After hearing warnings that a ban on supergraphic signs in Hollywood could have such dire consequences as stopping new development and forcing businesses to close their doors, the City Planning Commission Thursday directed the planning department to come back next month with more details on why the ban proposed by City Council President Eric Garcetti is needed and what potential effects it might have.

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Posted under Billboards, City Planning Commission, L.A. City Government, Supergraphic Signs

Backside of Lamar Advertising billboard on Olympic Blvd. in L.A.'s Koreatown

The face of this billboard displays fresh ad copy, so we know it’s not abandoned.   And even though Lamar, which owns more billboards in the U.S. than any other company, lost $58 million last year, it’s hard to imagine that it couldn’t have found some stray pennies to sandblast and paint this billboard (perhaps by forgoing one trip in the company jet.)  But then, Lamar is known for its litigious nature, and has a number of active lawsuits against cities, counties, and other govermental jurisdictions around the country that have interfered in some way with its ability to put up billboards, so maybe they really do need everything they can scrape together to pay attorneys’ fees.

Posted under Billboards, Lamar Advertising, Uncategorized

View of supergraphic sign on Metropolitan Hotel apartment project above Hollywood freeway. Sign simulation by Skytag, Inc.

L.A. City Councilman Eric Garcetti’s proposal to ban new supergraphic signs in the Hollywood sign district would exempt a total of 31,000 sq. ft. of the signage that has won some form of city approval, but hasn’t been issued permits by the city building department.  Included is a 5,700 sq. ft. sign that would cover many of the windows on a 12-story apartment building clearly visible from the nearby Hollywood freeway.

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Posted under Billboards, CRA, City Planning Commission, L.A. City Government, L.A. Live, Outdoor Advertising, Skytag, Supergraphic Signs, Trutanich

L.A. Outdoor Advertising Billboard on 110 Freeway

Four full-sized billboards that appeared without warning the past three years on the north side of the 110 freeway may be in definite jeopardy, due to a U.S. District Court judge’s ruling today upholding the city’s claim that the billboards are illegal and need to be removed.  See  New Billboards Go Up Alongside Downtown Freeway

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Posted under Billboards, Outdoor Advertising

New signs like these on Sunset & Vine tower would be banned under Garcetti proposal

Multi-story supergraphic signs advertising everything from movies to liquor to women’s clothing have proliferated throughout Hollywood in the past half dozen years, but L.A. City Council president Eric Garcetti is now calling for a ban on the approval of any more of the signs in the Hollywood Sign district.  In a motion to be voted on by the City Council this coming Tuesday,  Garcetti cited “community concern” and “ongoing legal questions about the appropriateness of supergraphic signs…”

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Posted under Billboards, City Planning Commission, Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel, L.A. City Government, Outdoor Advertising, Supergraphic Signs

Site of supergraphic sign on building overlooking Hollywood freeway

The 9^th Circuit Court of Appeals has decided against granting World Wide Rush and Skytag, Inc. an “En Banc” rehearing of last May’s ruling upholding the constitutionality of L.A.’s ban on off-site and supergraphic advertising signs.   The companies’ only recourse now in their three-year old attack on the city’s sign ordinance is to file a writ of certiorari asking the U.S. Supreme Court to review the appeals court ruling.

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Posted under Billboards, Skytag, Supergraphic Signs, World Wide Rush

Clear Channel billboard, left, and CBS bus shelter sign, right, violate industry code of practices regarding proximity to schools and churches

Clear Channel, CBS Outdoor, and other big sign companies regularly tout the value of billboards for PSA’s, or public service announcements.  But when it comes to following their own industry code of practices the companies aren’t so public-spirited and community-minded.

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Posted under Billboards, CBS Outdoor, Clear Channel

Supergraphic "Sex and the City 2" ad put up by Skytag, Inc. being removed from Santa Monica Blvd. office building

Northbound travelers on the 405 freeway in West L.A. might be asking what happened to the supergraphic signs that used to be stretched across the face of a 12-story office building on adjacent Sepulveda Blvd., advertising such products as movies, cellphones, fast food, soft drinks, and trips to Hawaii.

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Posted under Billboards, CBS Outdoor, Michael McNeilly, Skytag, Supergraphic Signs, Van Wagner, World Wide Rush

Watch the short video and then hit the “continue reading” link to take a short quiz.

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Posted under Advertising, Billboards, Uncategorized