Duane’s Auto Body and the Route 8 Billboard

Canton Police Bust A Bunch PervsKudos for the Beacon Journal for listing their names. For those who are fans of the Game of Thrones television show, "SHAME, SHAME, SHAME..." Route 8 Billboard BattleAhead of a $125 million project to replace the state Route 8 bridge, the Ohio Department of Transportation bought and demolished the plumbing and trucking businesses below it. But the neighboring two car garage at Duane’s Auto Body, which Duane Bartoe has owned and operated for six years on East North Street, wasn’t so lucky. Bartoe got no state offer to sell, which he would have used to relocate his Akron business. Instead, he said the state warned him that the bridge work would probably close the road outside his garage for the next five years. It's kind of hard to fix cars when you can't get to the garage. So he’s looking to lease his property to Conteers LLC, a Sidney, Ohio, company that operates billboards. This would be very tall and end up being 55 feet above the bridge. “My first and foremost concern is the business owner,” said Councilwoman Tara Samples, one of the few at City Hall to show support for the billboard request in her ward. “He’s been down there for a long time. He’s watched a lot of the businesses around him get bought up or close. He’s really down there by himself.” Any billboard requires a conditional use permit in Akron. And the city, so far, has rejected Conteers’ permit request. Councilman Jeff Fusco, who chairs the Planning Committee, said he will ask colleagues if they have all the information they need to vote Monday. City officials say the billboard would be an unwanted and aesthetically displeasing distraction for drivers, as well as too tall for normal consideration. My favorite is it will block the view of a few trees and a looking into the Juvenile detention center. According the Beacon Journal, "Mayor Dan Horrigan’s planning staff, “which remains decisively opposed to the proposed use,” reiterated these concerns in recommending that Council also reject the billboard permit, which the state has separately approved." Kevin Wasie runs Exactly Real Estate on main Main Street. He’s excited about construction and revitalization in downtown Akron, but he’s troubled by the lack of opportunity to advertise his small business. According to Kevin if you want on a billboard its almost a monopoly as all the billboards are run by two companies. “There were so many events that I didn’t even know about,” Wasie told the council Monday about moving back to the area. “And I think that so many people outside of Akron don’t even know about so much of the great stuff going on down here that you guys are all a part of putting together …” “In my opinion,” he continued, “this should not be a question of whether we should or should not allow the billboard. The question should be how do we get more companies like Conteers investing in our community and how do we get more megaphones to tell our stories so people really know who we are.” The lawyer for the billboard company said it would obstruct 'only five to 10 trees.“ Support The Show Buy me " a coffee (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/davejackson) " Support this podcast