Results tagged “supergraphic”

For the most part, new supergraphics and billboards are illegal under a moratorium passed last December (there are a handful of locations grandfathered in, though). We're not sure if this bold new supergraphic at (check out an old supergraphic in streetview) is one of the illegal ones or not, but this looks like a new step into the future of them. That 3D cup of frozen joe (or whatever it is) on that fake brick is described as huge by LAist contributor Tim Hammer who noticed it while driving. What's next? Digital supergraphics?

Too bad Manny is suspended. Blogdowntown reports that despite a moratorium on supergraphics, new "Mannywood" advertisements have appeared on the sides of buildings on Flower and Figueroa in the past two weeks. Funny thing is, the billboard moratorium was just extended yesterday until June 24th. (Photo: Eric Richardson)

By Mark Dolley, Special to LAist

At a hearing yesterday, U.S. District Judge Audrey B. Collins found the city in contempt for enforcing a supergraphic moratorium on World Wide Rush, the one company allowed to hang supergraphics in specific locations under an injunction. "Collins chastised the city for refusing to allow World Wide Rush to even apply for permits and then citing the company for not having them, specifically referring to two locations, one in Westwood and the other near the Miracle Mile," the LA Times reported.

Yesterday. the City Council extended a three-month moratorium on new supergraphics and digital billboards for an additional 45 days. "The ICO [Interim Control Ordinance] will expire on March 26, 2009, but the legislative process to approve changes to the City’s sign ordinances may not be completed by March 26. If the ICO is allowed to lapse for even one day, a flurry of illegal signs could be installed and be nearly impossible to remove later," stressed a statement from Councilman Jack Weiss' office. This comes as both the Daily News and a follow up from the LA Times attracts attention to chopped down trees on Caltrans property along the 405 freeway near new supergraphics on the Sherman Oaks Galleria. Also: After LAist's ran this story, CBS took down their Dr. Phil supergraphic.

Even though the city has given the CIM Group over $28 million in financial aid for the past few years for redevelopment projects, they are allowing illegal supergraphics and billboards on their properties in Hollywood. The city agreed last year to let them have three supergraphics--currently there are six. Additionally, the agreement included taking down two billboards that are still up.

To the astonishment of building tenants and just about everyone else, an illegal supergraphic went up last week on the same building that was used by the city as an example of the verboten advertisements. In late January, the building at National and Westwood Boulevard--then with a Tropicana supergraphic--was used as a press conference backdrop to talk about fire department safety concerns and how the city is looking to have stricter penalties.

Westfield is looking to do a 235,000 square foot expansion of their Sherman Oaks Fashion Square location, bringing back some of the outdoor promenade open air feel it had before the 1994 earthquake. It's been in an extensive community process for over three years with Westfield and neighbors working together, of course, not always agreeing together. After all, this is a regional mall smack dab in the middle of a single family home community.

Not only does Warner Bros' The Watchmen look terrible, it recently is the latest content on an illegal supergraphic endangering tenants of this four-story building off the Robertson Blvd. exit from the 10 Freeway, finds billboard activist Dennis Hathaway.

City Attorney Rocky Delgadillo today filed criminal charges against a billboard company and building owners over an illegal sign next to the 10 Freeway. Keep in mind, this is two days after the city held a press conference under the same exact sign saying they were revving up to fight if these don't come down.

City Councilman and City Attorney candidate Jack Weiss held a press conference yesterday to announce a tougher stance on enforcement of illegal billboards. “Because supergraphics are so profitable, full penalties must be brought to cut into the flow of profits and give enforcement some teeth,” he said. As Curbed LA explained, supergraphics on buildings pose a fire danger. Let's say a fire happens on an upper floor of a building, but there's a 5,000 pound supergraphic covering the windows. Well, that doesn't work if firefighters need use ladders and climb through windows. An online database will be built soon so the public can report and upload photos of illegal signs.

     

"Why haven't we heard a single word from Mayor Villaraigosa about protecting building tenants and the public from this appropriation of the city's visual landscape for commercial advertising?" That's Dennis Hathaway of BanBillboardBlight.org, an advocacy site that keeps current on the Los Angeles' billboard problems. Hathaway is referring to an LA Times editorial today that calls out Villaraigosa.