Signs of the Times

Raleigh’s Appearance Ayatollahs are at it again.


Three companies that plan downtown office towers want to put their logos on the buildings. And, since the buildings are bigger, they want the city to allow bigger signs – 2.5 times the size allowed today.


Sounds reasonable to me. After all, the city moved heaven and earth (and a lot of tax money) to attract companies downtown. And I don’t see how a big sign is any worse a sight than a big building.


But I’m not an architect. And the two architects on the City Council – Russ Stephenson and Thomas Crowder – say no.


According to The News & Observer, Crowder said the current code is adequate and that commercialism should not drive city planning. “A building’s architecture should be its iconic signature, not signage,” he said.


I guess he would feel different if he were in the sign business instead of the architecture business.


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Gary Pearce

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Signs of the Times

Raleigh’s Appearance Ayatollahs are at it again.


Three companies that plan downtown office towers want to put their logos on the buildings. And, since the buildings are bigger, they want the city to allow bigger signs – 2.5 times the size allowed today.


Sounds reasonable to me. After all, the city moved heaven and earth (and a lot of tax money) to attract companies downtown. And I don’t see how a big sign is any worse a sight than a big building.


But I’m not an architect. And the two architects on the City Council – Russ Stephenson and Thomas Crowder – say no.


According to The News & Observer, Crowder said the current code is adequate and that commercialism should not drive city planning. “A building’s architecture should be its iconic signature, not signage,” he said.


I guess he would feel different if he were in the sign business instead of the architecture business.


Click to Read & Post Comments


Posted in ,
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Gary Pearce

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