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More Sign-Code Dust-Ups

Elected officials’ resistance to economic vitality continues to baffle

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It often seems that ST could fill entire issues with nothing but sign-code proposals and the conflicts that typically ensue. Here are a few recent samples culled from various newspaper websites and industry and community blogs:
• BallparkDigest.com reports  that Chicago mayor Rahm Emanuel has called for enhancements to Wrigley Field, the legendary home of the Cubs, which would modernize the park similarly to changes made to the Boston Red Sox’ Fenway Park. He’s advocating a relaxation of the park’s historical-landmark status, which would greenlight more electronic displays and other signage that would reportedly generate up to $150 million in revenue. In return, the city would lower its collection rate from “amusement tax” revenues extracted from events at entertainment venues such as Wrigley. Predictably, Windy City historic preservationists want to preserve Wrigley’s “integrity.” On www.bleedcubbieblue.com, longtime Chicagoan Al Yellon expressed his support by showing a 1910 picture of the Cubs’ previous home, the West Side Grounds. What was prominent in the outfield bleachers? Signs. In this sign-clad ballpark, the Cubs won four pennants in five years. Since moving to Wrigley in 1916, its championship drought has endured. Coincidence? Perhaps not.

• Detroit city officials have withdrawn their petition to erect large electronic displays at the entrance to Belle Isle, the city’s largest public park. The proposal called five-story-tall structures equipped with electronic billboards to be installed near Belle Isle’s entrance, which stoked the ire of the Belle Isle Conservancy and other local nonprofits. The plan reportedly stemmed from a desire to “be prepared in a post-9/11 world” to inform visitors of natural disasters or terrorist attacks, although sponsorships and a limited number of commercial messages were expected to subsidize the display. Presently, Daryl Lundy, director of the city’s office of Homeland Security, said officials have tabled the proposal for further discussion.

• Miami’s City Commission unanimously gave preliminary approval for the installation of electronic displays on the Miami Children’s Museum, James L. Knight Center and any other city-owned building with the capacity to hold more than 1,000 people. Peter Ehrlich, a local, anti-sign activist, decried, “The city hasn’t done any studies on how [electronic displays] hurt cities and reduce property values. Commissioner Marc Sarnoff countered that in Times Square, where such displays are ubiquitous, property values have grown more than 1,000% in the last decade. City Planning Director Francisco Garcia said he needed to conduct further research before the ordinance was given a final vote.

• The Dubuque (IA) City Council has ordered the local Library Board of Trustees to remove pillars from its freestanding signs at the local Carnegie-Stout Library. According to its order, the board must install the signs either on a limestone or colored-concrete base no higher than 12 in. from the ground (my italics) and paint the sign and base the same color as the library building. The local Historic Preservation Committee (HPC) complained to the council that the signs had been installed without proper permits or review. Mayor Roy Buol sided with the HPC, saying the city would “set a precedent” if elected officials didn’t support the organization.
 

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