A Rolling Rock billboard that hangs over Downtown, and drew the ire of preservationists, will come down within a month, said the attorney for its owners.

Attorney Joel Aaronson, of Reed Smith, said sign firm Capitol Outdoor Inc. decided to remove the sign rather than face a hearing and vote set for yesterday of Pittsburgh's Historic Review Commission. He said Capitol didn't want to end up in litigation.

"In response to the Historic Review Commission's position, we made a decision to take down the sign," he said. "At least from our perspective, that ended the controversy."

In July 2007, Capitol put the sign on a building in the Penn-Liberty Historic District without commission approval, which is required under the city code. The firm had permits from city zoning and building officials.