Sell-Your-House Signs Stir Debate

This topic deserves coverage and demands better solutions.

For several months, members of the Packard Area Planning Alliance have been working to keep illegal, obnoxious and predatory signage out of our south-central neighborhoods. If you place illegal signs in our neighborhoods, they will be removed and you will have wasted your time and money.

Based on the neighborhoods most often targeted with these signs, it is obvious that people are trying to take advantage of residents in low-income neighborhoods or areas they perceive lack anyone who cares. We do care about all of our residents and neighborhoods, and we will continue to fight back against predatory practices and sign litter.

I would encourage all other residents to help by removing signs from park strips when you see them. They are not supposed to be in the right of way and can be removed by anyone.

The larger signs (essentially small-scale billboards) on privately owned, empty residential lots present a more complex challenge. The lack of enforcement is problematic and unacceptable. Investors buy up empty lots with no intent of building homes. Instead, they want low-cost land to put up obnoxious signage next to people's homes. I wonder what the reaction might be if these same tactics were used in other residential areas, such as the more upscale neighborhoods in the north and southwest sides.

PAPA and its member neighborhoods stand with the other residents and neighborhoods affected by these issues. We strongly urge the city to continue working to find long-term solutions to keep these signs and these "investors" away from our friends and neighbors.

Kody Tinnel

President, Packard Area Planning Alliance

PAPA and its member neighborhoods stand with the other residents and neighborhoods affected by these signs.

This was originally published in the Journal Gazette on September 10, 2021.