All aboard against the billboard

Posted on by Alan Escovitz

It’s time for community interest to be considered before self-interest. We are seeing a groundswell of Asheville residents responding to the digital billboard installed on Merrimon Avenue; more than 370 people have signed a petition demanding that the digital billboard be removed.

Support this effort by signing the petition to remove the billboard on Merrimon Avenue at http://avl.mx/3r.

Merrimon Avenue is inappropriate for digital billboards due to the dense residential neighborhoods on all sides, and thus [it] is not a true commercial corridor. The billboard’s visual distraction also represents a safety hazard to pedestrians and bicyclists, which is one of the many reasons other cities have banned such billboards. Nearby residents and businesses are concerned about the scale of the sign, which was placed on a front lawn of a house now zoned for business, and the sign’s impact on property values in the immediate area.

Asheville residents cannot wait until 2014 when the city’s agreement with the billboard company is renegotiated. Our community will soon make their feelings known not only to the property owner where the billboard is sited, but also to Fairway Outdoor Advertising and all businesses that choose to advertise at this location.

— Alan Escovitz
Asheville

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12 thoughts on “All aboard against the billboard”

  1. Asheville Dweller

    Deal with it, its a big thing called the future, Asheville can’t stay in the 70’s for ever.

  2. Bugg

    Where were these NIMBYs when these billboards went up in other parts of Asheville?

  3. Asheville Dweller

    They are getting a little to close to the Holy Land of Down Town Asheville. Now its time to Rah-Rah .. . . . Remember Asheville Doesnt exist past the Tunnel or Haywood road.

  5. J

    Alan is incorrect. Merrimon has been designated a true commercial corridor by the all wise city council. The theme for Merrimon has become “move over residents – make way for city council mandates!”.

    Expect more density, electronics, and wisdom of city staff.

  7. Asheville Dweller

    Its something different its not a piece of rust art/junk, or crappy B/W photo, or even a Mural so its hated.

  8. slycos

    Just fyi Long Shoals and Tunnel Road also have these lighted billboards (they’re LED, right?).

  9. slycos

    …Tunnel Road meaning near the Red Lobster etc. Apparently there’s one near Cocula according to another comment. That should make at least 5 around town that I’ve read.

  10. uh-oh

    While I have many concerns about the effects of advertising on society in general, I have great difficulty getting worked up over one particular item. Maybe a link to illustrate the billboard would help.

  12. dpewen

    I can’t believe the attention this billboard is getting … geeeezzz people it is just a billboard.

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