he Third Street Promenade became successful because it felt different. It wasn’t Sunset Boulevard. It wasn’t Times Square. It was a place where people came to walk, eat dinner, watch street performers, and enjoy being outside without being overwhelmed by advertising. 

The City has now approved large digital displays along portions of the Promenade as part of its effort to revitalize downtown, and the first proposals — including one for a landmarked building — are arriving. The reasoning is understandable: vacancies remain a challenge, city finances are tight, and officials are looking for ways to generate revenue and draw visitors back downtown. Filling storefronts, shoring up the budget, and bringing people back are worthwhile goals. 

Read More: https://smmirror.com/sm-a-r-t-column-the-promenade-wasnt-built-to-be-a-billboard/