One of the state's largest billboard companies is removing about 60-signs from downtown Savannah but also is being allowed to put up digital signs elsewhere in the city.
Lamar Advertising is removing the billboards. They don't comply with current zoning and Savannah city officials like Alderman Van Johnson consider them a blight on the community.
"And they are usually indicative of neighborhoods that are in trouble," Johnson said. "So in this, we're able to remove these signs from the sides of buildings and the middle of residential blocks to help restore the vitality of their block."
But in exchange, Lamar is being allowed to put signs up elsewhere. The company describes them as "like television." Their digital images would change once every 10 seconds. Downtown resident Dotti Rogers called them a blight on the community.
"So now, don't you think that would be something that would cause an accident more so than this?" Rogers asked. "This is still life. That they need to think about."
Lamar expects to put up five digital signs on commercial corridors with more than four lanes of traffic, mostly on the city's suburban Southside.
Lamar Advertising is removing the billboards. They don't comply with current zoning and Savannah city officials like Alderman Van Johnson consider them a blight on the community.
"And they are usually indicative of neighborhoods that are in trouble," Johnson said. "So in this, we're able to remove these signs from the sides of buildings and the middle of residential blocks to help restore the vitality of their block."
But in exchange, Lamar is being allowed to put signs up elsewhere. The company describes them as "like television." Their digital images would change once every 10 seconds. Downtown resident Dotti Rogers called them a blight on the community.
"So now, don't you think that would be something that would cause an accident more so than this?" Rogers asked. "This is still life. That they need to think about."
Lamar expects to put up five digital signs on commercial corridors with more than four lanes of traffic, mostly on the city's suburban Southside.
