Billboard comes down

A digital billboard is no longer within eyesight of the houses close to the Lakeshore Drive-Green Springs Highway intersection. The controversial billboard was taken down beginning Monday morning.

The city of Homewood and New Point Digital agreed upon a potential new site for the billboard on March 18 but have not released the exact location.

“Our meetings continue to be cordial and productive,” New Point President David DuBose said. “We have a few more details to ‘iron out,’ but I think sometime this week we will be able to announce that the billboard is moving to a new location. It will take a little more work to finalize the plan so I cannot disclose any more details at this time, but I am confident with the continued positive support of the county and the city that we will have this resolved very soon.”

Jefferson County Commissioner David Carrington said New Point was not obligated to move the sign but "did so as a good corporate citizen." Homewood Mayor Scott McBrayer said he is thankful New Point agreed to move the billboard and is encouraging local businesses to do business with New Point.

When scouting future locations, DuBose said he plans to "work closely with the county, cities and other stakeholders on future site developments.”

Several people with knowledge of the new site said that is more than 1,000 feet away from the closest home and was unlikely to cause the same kind of outcry that greeted the billboard at its present location.

Scott Dean, who organized protests against the original location, said he and a City Council member drove through the area where the sign will be relocated on Saturday afternoon.

"Neither of us believe it will be able to be seen from any home owners' residences," Dean said. "I even got out of my car and tried to walk through some of the area as well where I thought there could be an issue, but I just didn't see one."