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Old City Residents Berate City Council Over High-Rise Billboard Plan

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- New buildings often upset longtime residents, and that's the case in the Old City section of Philadelphia. Some residents are upset about plans for a new hotel-condo project, and they came to City Council on Thursday to voice their concerns.

This was week two of the new requirement that City Council allow public comment (see related story), and residents of Old City made full use of it.

They're upset about plans for a new project at 4th and Race Streets featuring hotel space, 45 condos, and retail at the ground level (see related story).

Included in this would be a seven-story-high electronic flashing billboard.  One resident complaining about that was Bob Caruso.

"If you're going to do that, you might as well put a six-story thing right on City Hall that says, 'Your Ad Here, Call City Council for Details,' " he told City Council.

But Councilman Frank DiCicco told Caruso the billboard will only be visible to drivers heading from New Jersey on the Ben Franklin Bridge.

"You will not be able to see if from your property or any other residential property," DiCicco said.

A final vote on the plan is expected next week.

Reported by KYW City Hall Bureau Chief Mike Dunn.

 

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