News

Mayor says it's 'beyond time' for company to remove 'unsightly' sign from Mount Washington

PITTSBURGH — Pittsburgh Mayor William Peduto is urging an advertising company to immediately remove a vinyl Sprint advertising banner from atop Mount Washington.

Lamar Advertising put the banner over the former electronic Bayer sign, and the city has been fighting to have it removed for nearly a year.

Peduto issued a statement Wednesday regarding the Zoning Board of Adjustment's rejection of Lamar Advertising's sign on Mt. Washington.

"We have been previously trying to work in good faith with Lamar regarding the future of the Mt. Washington sign, and instead they installed this unsightly vinyl Sprint sign that was placed illegally last year.  Lamar and Sprint have wasted taxpayer dollars by forcing us to defend the integrity of our city's scenic hillsides in court, and they have been in clear and blatant violation of our zoning and building code laws.  
 
"It's beyond time for Lamar and Sprint to step up and do the right thing, remove this illegal sign, and come back to the table to propose a permanent reuse of the historic Mt. Washington sign. They must remove what has become an embarrassing eyesore."  

City officials said they would like to see a company name on the electronic sign along with a message board that includes the time, temperature or information about Pittsburgh events.

Jon Kamin, the attorney for Lamar Advertising, said he’s disappointed in the city’s latest action and is now weighing his options.

“We had worked for many years to try to modernize the sign. We are still hopeful we can come to an agreement on that, but at this point, without the city approving our modernization, we were left with no alternative but to put up a final sign,” he said.

Peduto said if Lamar Advertising doesn’t comply and remove the ad, the city will go to court to force its removal.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Hearing held on condition of former Bayer sign on Mt. Washington (7/22/16)

 

Cox Media Group

Most Read