We believe that citizens are our best hope for improvement and that all residents, regardless of income, education or neighborhood should benefit from laws protecting their built environment.
The economic vitality of a city and its neighborhoods is closely linked to visual impressions. Beyond Aesthetics: How Billboards Affect Economic Prosperity examined the impact of billboards on real estate and found a statistically significant correlation between real estate value (as measured by sales price) and proximity to billboards. The study found “that property located within 500 feet of a billboard sold for 30,825 less according to a survey of real estate sales conducted during the summer of 2011 in Philadelphia.”
The author, Jonathan Snyder, also found that there is a correlation between billboard density and home value and a proliferation of billboards in a neighborhood negatively impacts home values. “For each additional billboard in a census tract, there is a $947 decrease in home value.” Billboards tend to be located along commercial corridors yet the analysis showed that “it was not the presence of a commercial corridor which had the negative impact on home values. It is the billboard itself that has a depressing effect on the whole of the census tract.” [1] The study also looked at the sign codes of 20 cities and found that those with strict codes had lower vacancy rates, higher medium income and lower poverty rates.
One Condominium building of 500 units brings in more tax revenue than all the billboards in the city! Owners paid 3 million dollars in real estate taxes a year. That’s 500,000 dollars more than the 2 1/2 million dollars in revenue received from 2000 billboards from excise tax last year. Hotels, parking, liquor and amusement taxes surpass Billboards by a huge margin.
| Amusement Tax | Parking Tax | Billboard Tax | Hotel Tax | Liquor Tax | ||
|
2008 |
17,995,000 |
54,819,000 |
2,678,000 |
39,737,000 |
41,653,000 |
|
|
2009 |
21,584,000 |
66,925,000 |
2,832,000 |
37,912,000 |
40,893,000 |
|
|
2010 |
21,278,000 |
66,925,000 |
2,292,000 |
40,018,000 |
42,946,000 |
|
|
2011 |
21,744,000 |
69,690,000 |
2,294,000 |
42,208,000 |
44,313,000 |
|
|
2012 |
21,660,000 |
70,366,000 |
2,449,000 |
47,012,000 |
49,060,000 |
Other relevant reports can be found here:
Above the Law and Under the Radar
Illuminating the Issues: Digital Signage and Philadelphia’s Green Future
Here’s What The New Billboard Law Would Do – And Why You Should Care?
City Council members have been hearing from billboard industry lobbyists. They have not heard from you. Please attend and tell them what you think.
Read The Economic Impact of Billboards on Property Values
Scenic Philadelphia is a 501(c) (3) nonprofit that promotes healthy, vibrant and beautiful public spaces throughout all of Philadelphia. We need your support to fight blight.
Congratulations your hard work has paid off! On Thursday September 19, Councilman Bobby Henon introduced bill 130628, to amend the existing legislation (Chapter 10-1200, “Posting Of Temporary Signs”) available through this link:
Councilman Henon’s bill 130628 has generated attention from the media, which we hope will help bring a greater awareness to the “band-it sign” blight issue.
After you’ve read bill 130628 and want to discuss it further please contact us at
215-731-1796.
It’s truly hard to believe, but the Urban Renewal class has already come to an end. Combining forces, Scenic Philadelphia and Philadelphia Futures offered a three-week class to Philadelphia public school students on the topics of urban renewal, city planning, and community economic development. Yesterday, the class culminated with a closing ceremony held at the Philadelphia Bar Association. While each student was formally recognized and given a certificate of completion, five individuals were selected to present their final projects. For the final assignment, each student was asked to identify an area or challenge within their respective neighborhoods and develop a proposal aimed at ameliorating the problem. Special emphasis was placed on overall community benefits and local organizations to partner with. A panel of five judges ranked 1st through 3rd place. The winner was rising senior, Jamir Weems, who proposed putting a music recording studio in two abandoned historic buildings in Olde City. Friends and family of the students gathered to celebrate the success of the class.
I am sad that the class has come to an end, but it was truly a rewarding experience. It was my first time working in a classroom setting, and I was inspired by each and every student on a daily basis. I learned just how much the kids care about the vitality of their neighborhoods and the quality of life of their neighbors. Philadelphia is lucky to have such an amazing group of conscious and responsible youth. I will leave you with a poem that was recited at the closing event by rising junior, Ahleah Forton (with special shout-outs to yours truly):
How Was Your Summer ??
How was your summer??
Well mine was filled with learning Philly is our city
So why not make it pretty? Instead of leaving it filthy.
Our Urban Renewal Class allowed us to create plans,
so we can take matters into our own hands,
and deduct blight from our lands.
How was your summer??
Mine was filled with connecting with students my age.
Sitting around a table, being on the same page.
With a awesome teacher and a super cool intern,
who taught lessons that kept me engaged.
Friends motivation. but of course I’m not a quitter.
And to keep in touch Marcel, Follow Me On TWITTER : ) !!
How was your summer??
Mine was filled with trying new things,
learning about New Orleans,
and sharing our nick name.
From leeky leek to t.james,
the best one, Ms. Pooh, is the ultimate nickname.
I believe nothing about this class was lame.
From PoBoys
at Baby Blues,
to Ben & Jerry’s, where a ice cream flavor was hard to choose.
Telling you about my summer is not to give you the blues.
So when I look around I want to see all kinds of smiles in my view
STEPHANIE AARONSON / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Signs objecting Goldtex Apartments line a section of 11th Street.
“IT’S A MESS. You’re littering the street. Who’s here to read it?” asks Andre Wilson. “It’s senseless.”
He is talking about the dandelion field of signs up and down the Vine Street median between 11th and 12th streets not far from where he lives. Lots of cars whiz by, almost no pedestrians.
Posted April 25, 2013
Philadelphia has employed an all encompassing strategy to protect its assets from regulations that they feel threaten their bottom line. Well worth reading for the big picture and to understand why we need your support.
