Appeal to Stop Digital Billboard on Freeway

This is a message we sent to the Albany City Council today urging Council members not to approve the giant digital billboard between the I-80 and I-580 freeways directly in front of the three condominium complexes on Pierce Street in Albany:

As residents of Gateview Apartments facing San Francisco Bay, the three of us are strongly against the Albany City Council project to construct a digital billboard between I-80 and I-580 in front of the Gateview, Bridgewater, and Bayside Commons condominium complexes.

Above all, these JumboTrons are a known distraction to motorists and studies have shown it could increase accidents on this already accident-prone stretch of highway. But of more personal concern is the fact that this monstrosity will destroy the aesthetics of the shoreline of San Francisco Bay. It will be located directly adjacent to the shoreline bike and walking trail and directly in the view of our three apartment complexes. As such, it will have the very real possibility of reducing our property values.

Many of us purchased our apartments specifically because of our relatively unobstructed view of beautiful San Francisco Bay, the Golden Gate, Angel Island, and San Francisco. To construct this wholly unnecessary source of light and visual pollution would reflect very poorly on our Albany City Council and on our city, annoy motorists, and directly affect the quality of life and property values of the numerous residents of Gateview, Bridgewater, and Bayside Commons.

We urge you NOT to approve this project and instead redesign the maintenance building to reduce the $7.5 million cost. There is no need for the building to be so large just to provide parking for the utility vehicles, which can be parked in the lot instead.

Thank you!