The Washington Examiner writes about our billboard problem. Thanks to Cary Silverman of MVSNA for passing this along.
Billboards have been illegal in the District since 1931. However, some remain up, such as this one on 11th Street and K Street NW. It is not entirely clear which ones are up legally and which are up illegally. (Andrew Harnik/Examiner)
A D.C. government project to sort out legal billboards from illegal ones is requiring a staggering amount of legwork — searches through piles of decades-old city permits and calls to the National Archives, for example.
…
An example of how complicated the effort may be: Shaw activists have long complained about a set of billboards near the intersections of New Jersey Avenue, Fourth Street and P Street Northwest.
Neighbors assumed the signs were illegal. But they are legal: DCRA’s predecessor agency issued a permit in 1961 for them to General Outdoor Advertising Inc.
Read the rest of the story here: Spotting illegal billboards tough for the District | Washington Examiner.
