Houston, Clear Channel reach deal to pull 831 billboards Mayor flips the blight switch

Ad firm agrees to tear down 831 billboards in city

The city has struck a deal with one of the largest outdoor advertising companies in Houston that calls for it to dismantle 831 billboards before the end of this year.

The agreement with Clear Channel Outdoor would take effect after the City Council approves it. The proposal is on Wednesday's agenda.

Under the settlement, Clear Channel would remove 831 small and medium-sized billboards from across the city, 51 of them from designated "scenic districts." That represents a two-thirds reduction of all the company's billboards that are less than 288 square feet in size

Many of those billboards were slated to come down by 2013, but some could have remained up permanently because they are located on federal roadways and are beyond the city's legal reach.

In return, Clear Channel would get an extension on 24 large billboards that would have come down between 2009 and 2013. Those will get to stay up 20 more years. The last ones will come down in 2033.

"I think that's worth it," Mayor Bill White said Monday. "It takes down more billboards faster."

Anti-billboard activists said they approved of the deal.

"We were very pleased," said Ed Wulfe, a board member with Scenic Houston. The nonprofit advocates for beautification of streets and public spaces. "For all practical purposes, it will mean no new billboards."

The group had blasted White for offering a "relocation" provision in its previous settlement offer last December. That would have given Clear Channel the right to move 466 medium billboards. That was the same as allowing new billboards to be built, the group contended.

Allows attrition to work

Attorneys for Clear Channel could not be reachedMonday.

Wulfe said it was more palatable to extend the lifespan of 24 large billboards than to let 466 billboards move about the city.

"I'm OK with it because it was the trading chip that got, as far as we're concerned, the opportunity to limit relocations to almost nothing, and once and for all," Wulfe said.

Now, billboards can be relocated only if government condemns the property for a road widening or other project, Wulfe said.

Visual blight opponents say that was important because it allows attrition to work on the billboard population: They'll decrease over time from lease expirations, new development, market downturns and weather.

Michael "Mack" Fowler, on the steering committee of the Quality of Life Coalition, said he was pleased with the change.

"I think relocation was a complete and total non-starter," he said. "It was a horrible idea."

The 24 large billboards that would get extensions are scattered about the city. They measure 14 feet by 48 feet. But they represent just 2 percent of all billboards of that size in Houston, said Andy Icken, deputy director of the city's Department of Public Works and Engineering.

The deal accomplishes the city's goal of getting smaller billboards out of residential neighborhoods and scenic districts, Icken said.

"Some would argue the small boards are even more offensive than the large boards, because they're in underserved neighborhoods and advertise liquor and stuff like that," he said.

carolyn.feibel@chron.com