Possible New Deal Lights Up Interest In Mt. Washington Bayer Sign

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) – The lights may be staying on after all, a deal is in the works to keep the iconic Bayer sign atop Mt. Washington plugged in.

Another company has stepped into the mix and is interested in the sign.

But there's a catch. The city has to let them make the upgrades they want.

The rusty old hulk atop Mt. Washington is showing its age, so much so, that the pharmaceutical giant Bayer no longer wanted to be associated with it.

But Lamar Advertising says that's no reason to throw in the towel.

"That sign has been there since the '30s," Lamar Attorney Jonathan Kamin said. "We think it's important that it stay here for another 100 years."

Lamar will spend the next nine months performing a major upgrade, replacing the rusted façade and the old neon with a new material called plexineon – more flexible and vibrant than the old.

"What we're doing is a long term upgrade, but to the viewer it will look almost identical to everybody who sees it," Kamin said. "With the same level of functionality, the same type of letter. It will be almost identical."

And with Bayer gone, its new client is waiting in the wings. And with renovations, Lamar says they will be proud to have its name adorn the new sign – even if the name will not be revealed at this time.

"We're doing the upgrade regardless, and as far as the client there'll be an announcement in the future about who that is," Kamin said.

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Iconic Bayer Sign On Mt. Washington To Go Dark
Bayer Wants To Upgrade Mt. Washington Sign, Faces Opposition

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