Comments on: Billboard Saga at 4th and P Streets, NW Continues

By: Peter

Peter — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 14:50:38 +0000

U is correct in the legal analysis. Everyone on this blog should stop trying to get DC to take clear channels property. DC forcing Clear Channel to remove the billboards is no different, from a legal perspective, than DC taking someone’s house to exercise eminent domain the owner must be compensated. If you do not like the billboards buy them and then remove them.

Also let’s face it Clear Channel is not the most evil company in DC, Comcast is and Clear Channel is second.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 14:32:40 +0000

And now therefore thus saith the Lord, the God of Israel, concerning this city, whereof ye say, It shall be delivered into the hand of the king of Babylon by the sword, and by the famine, and by the pestilence; the pestilence, the pestilence so terrifying it causes fowl to lose their plumage at the sound of the word: BILLBOARDS!

By: Petworth Newbie

Petworth Newbie — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 19:48:14 +0000

I repeat my position. Billboards are fugly. “U” – sounds like you’d love Texas, where people honor other people’s property rights and they allow hideous circus-theme car washes next to the most historic buildings in town, or Barstow, Calif., where you can look at hundreds of nasty billboards for Las Vegas all day.

By: poo poo

poo poo — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 17:31:58 +0000

there’s a billboard at 3rd and k st. NE – in a totally residential neighborhood. it’s on the side of some crappy house that is being used as a church and a ‘sunday fishfry’ place. other than that, it’s pretty much vacant. actually, they don’t even use it at all on most sundays. the bldg. is actually falling down. i cannot wait until that thing gets removed, or…. whatever. hopefully lightning will strike it on one of our stormy nights….

By: ET

ET — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 12:47:54 +0000

I remember a few years ago – when they were revising the codes for billboards I think – and some came in via a loophole. I think I remember that those who moved quick on the loophole stayed but the City Council closed it PDQ when they realized the consequences. I wonder if this grouping was one of them.

there is one on the Verizon(?) building that overlooks the SE/SW freeway that I wish would go away. I am from New Orleans which went crazy for those things and find it so pleasant to not be distracted by all the visual noise now that I am in DC.

By: Scooter

Scooter — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 11:02:53 +0000

In addition to the money the city has incurred in doing the legal research on the billboards history, there’s also going to be the matter of the city eventually paying Clear Channel for the removal of the billboards. No doubt Clear Channel will ask for a ton of money for the value of the billboards.

Additionally, the land was already classified as vacant (look it up on OTR’s Real Property Database). Clear Channel paid very little in property taxes b/c the land was assessed super low. Ironically, Clear Channel will pay even less now b/c the Council got rid of the vacant property tax. THanks Jack & Kwame!

End result of all this: City will spend a couple million in legal and staff fees to remove the billboards and compensate Clear Channel. Then the neighborhood will have a nice vacant corner lot – which can’t be deemed as “blighted” under the new vacant property laws. Thanks again Jack & Kwame!

By: ontarioroader

ontarioroader — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 04:55:24 +0000

@shawres

That’s not exactly right. I’ve looked around online and found the bus shelter contract text – it actually only states that clear channel is required to run 10 stations and 100 bikes with no stipulation or mention of any expansion. Check out the WashCycle blog for more info, but it’s all there. DDOT made big claims of expansion without any contract [with clear channel, bixi or anyone else] in place.

By: shawres

shawres — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 04:42:57 +0000

@anonymous @416

clear channel gave DC the bikeshare program in exchange for exclusive access to the bus stations. However, the contract stipulated that clear channel had to pay for an expansion when the city was ready. when DC announced they were installing 40 more stations this summer, clear channel balked, which is why DDOT is now looking into Bixi to replace smartbike

By: Gordon

Gordon — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 03:05:11 +0000

There’s frequent mention on posts like this about bigger things going on in the neighborhood that everyone should worry about. I’m not trying to be antagonistic here, I’m honestly curious – isn’t there something to the notion of cleaning up the small stuff, taking pride in your community, and having that lead to an improvement in the neighborhood’s overall character (cleanliness, reduced crime, etc)? Take NYC and Rudy’s no panhandling rules. Sure, there were bigger issues out there, but you have to start somewhere, right? Maybe not the best example, but that’s sort of what I’m getting at.

By: Legba Carrefour

Legba Carrefour — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 02:20:19 +0000

If those billboards go away, I promise you there will be 22 white-painted ghost billboards spread all around that intersection. And when DPW takes them away, I will install more ghost billboards there.