CAPE CORAL, Fla. -- Two electronic billboards recently went up in Cape Coral, and some residents were caught off guard with how fast they have gone up.
"I happen to be driving over the bridge and see the pole being laid in," said Ralph San Giovanni, owner of Razzle Dazzle in downtown Cape Coral. "What the heck is that," he added.
One of the billboards is located off Cape Coral Parkway and the other is located off Veterans Memorial Parkway.
Johann Rodriguez has lived in the Cape for the past decade. She says she came to Cape Coral for the green spaces not to see a billboard through her palm trees.
"It looks kinda raggedy. It doesn't look very nice," said Rodriguez. "Just more air pollution and it takes away from the skyline," she added.
San Giovanni sees why the city voted to build the pair, but disagrees with the spots they picked out for them.
"Promoting Cape Coral is a good thing," said San Giovanni. "I think maybe the location and as large as it is going to be that it might be an eyesore," he added.
San Giovanni has been doing business for 26 years on Cape Coral Parkway. He says he is going to wait and see how the billboards play out.
"Quite honestly, I'm on the fence," said San Giovanni.
Rodriguez wants the city to stop at just two billboards.
"I came from Miami. Miami is all about signs and it doesn't look nice," said Rodriguez "It gets too crowded."
The billboards are a partnership between the city of Cape Coral and the Lamar Company LLC. The Lamar Company will have the responsibility of designing, constructing, and maintaining the four electronic signs.
