The increasing number of advertisements appearing on nearly every rising structure in the Miami Skyline is alarming, let alone visually assaulting. Almost every building has some sort of tarp-like advertising perched on its side, plastered with the face of D-wade or some product you have absolutely no interest in to begin with. It seems that everyone has their own version of how to create a time square in Miami; I can assure you this isn’t it. The City of Miami and Miami-Dade County are finally working to draft ordinances which would place greater fines on property holders and limit the number of these illegal ads dotting our new landscape. If only now they could do something to persuade our Florida Legislature to repeal the ordinance allowing for the removal of trees which are obstructing the sight of permanent billboards.
I took these pictures as I walked around downtown last week on my way to a meeting. The first two pictures depict what these hideous banners look like, typically placed on uncompleted high-rises or on the blank walls of existing structures. The Third picture below is of a recent new addition to the advertising assault: the Mobile ad aka Media Truck. Believe it or not, some people pay large sums of money to have their ads plastered to the side of a truck whose only objective is to drive around and be seen…
Preferable to blank walls though (speaking of things that shouldn’t have been allowed). What ever happened to the days of murals going on the sides of blank buildings?
I’d prefer blank walls, but people can make money this way and since condos aren’t selling it’s a small contribution to property owners coffers.
If we had a true and functional Media and Entertainment District, this wouldn’t be happening. Turning a building into a billboard can only be justified through the context of an M&E District.
I agree that we need to create a media and entertainment district. I was more taken aback by the advert trucks moving through the streets. Not only are these trucks ugly eyesores, but they are large vehicles taking up space as they drive down the road. Perhaps more important is to create vehicle restrictions that prohibit vehicles of that size from downtown. Of course such a course of action would require stopping the trucks from the port…
I like the ads I’ve seen so far. Some of them are creatively designed. They just need better placement. All the better reason why we need an M&E NOW. Bring on the flashing lights and Jumbotrons.