Historic Coca-Cola Sign At Center Of Controversy In Downtown Baton Rouge [UPDATED]

An iconic Coca-Cola sign is geographically located at the corner of Third Street and Florida Boulevard in downtown Baton Rouge, but lately it has taken residence in the center of controversy.

UPDATE: According to numerous eyewitnesses and The Advocate, the sign has been uncovered and is now back on display.

Last Thursday, many excited citizens celebrated the grand opening of the new Raising Cane's location in downtown Baton Rouge, but a historic Coca-Cola sign on top of the building—the last of it's kind in existence—was covered by an opaque black tarp.

The building's owner, Mike Crouch, has "blacked out" the sign until he and MDC Properties reach a deal with Coca-Cola over advertising charges and a lot of BR locals are unhappy about it.

Quite possibly the most displeased may be Red Shtick author Jeremy White, based on his scathing NSFW open letter to the downtown building owner.

James Clary, an attorney representing Crouch, sent a letter to Coca-Cola stating that recent work had been done on the sign without Crouch's permission and as a result had been disconnected and covered. Clary's letter also stated that the sign would be re-lit when

an agreement is reached concerning the sign's maintenance, insurance, and a fair agreement remunerating our client for market-rate advertisement charges

What makes this story extra controversial is that according to multiple sources, including Baton Rouge Metro Council Member John Delgado, the sign was donated to the Arts Council of Greater Baton Rouge more than a decade ago—and doesn't actually belong to Crouch.

Coca-Cola allegedly spent $20,000 recently to maintain the sign that is powered free of charge by Entergy as part of an agreement made upon it's donation to the Arts Council. The letter from James Lary to Coca-Cola can be seen here.

Have you seen the historic sign? What do you think its fate should be?

[via NOLA.com/Red Shtick]