Signs Without Direction
ByAvid readers may remember that I recently posted an opinion here regarding the numerous, and cheesy, sandwich boards that spring up, like mushrooms after the rain in our town during the weekend. They range from advertising chicken wings and duct cleaning to vagabond houses of worship to homes starting in the low 200s. We have a sign ordinance in town, but evidently it does not apply to the city strip.
Not to be out done, the city has decided that they need to get the word out. Exactly what word they want to get out has yet to be determined, but why let the trivial get in the way of an opportunity to spend some money (I have a few words to offer, by the way). Aw, what is another mushroom anyway when it is the city’s turn to 1-up the competition.
What better way is there to broadcast a message in the Pacific Northwest than to say it on a reader board. Not just any reader board, but an electronic color reader board that can be programmed remotely. The bidding process closed and the results were reportedly in the $54-58K range. Did I mention that they wanted it to be a monument base? Think grave marker.
If you think this is yet another whim undertaken, the city even has a proposed site marked on a map: The NW corner of McNeil and Center. Additionally, the Request for Bid also stated that the target date for the reader board to be installed and functional was February 15, 2008.
Thankfully, there were members of the council who poo-poohed the idea. But, before you think that common sense prevailed, the mayor suggested, and the council agreed, that we need more than one reader board! Why should the people who live in the Historic Village or Rancho Madrona come to the city center to see what is happening in town? They should also get their own, albeit smaller, reader board. And since you can enter our town one of three ways, there should be reader boards, again smaller ones, placed there too.
Three quick points. The first is to stop this trying to be inclusive bullshit where everybody gets a pony. There is one DuPont and it should be governed as such. The second point, and correct me if I am wrong, aren’t we trying to lure people into our city center to walk, shop, and dine? Then why are we bidding on something primarily designed to be seen from a car traveling at 35 mph? The last time I checked, we are a town of less than six square miles. Five signs, even if they are smaller than a real estate sign, is preposterous. The last point is that Quadrant has already beaten the city to the punch, again, with this concept. You cannot walk 200 yards without one of their lame marketing signs guiding you to the various attractions. Don’t you think they know a little bit more than the city about marketing? Notice how they have left off any reference to historic venues? A sign that is a sign, perhaps.
And exactly what is the city hoping to put on the reader board? The current published city calendar has sixteen events listed, three of which are TBA. The other events that happen in the city are organized by the ROA and they will presumably not be advertising on a city reader board.
Lastly, do we really think that a reader board enhances our community? Take a good hard look at one in any neighboring town and ask yourself if it appears value added. Most of the time it has several bulbs burnt out or reminds you to Drive Safely or that this is National Don’t Give a Damn Week.
Might I suggest a few alternatives to our Rolls Royce of signs and how to finance it?
My first suggestion is that the supporters of the idea hold a car wash in the wash bay at the civic center when it is built. Since that will take too long then the city might consider luring in a truck stop. We are adjacent to a weigh station, after all.
For those who think we should have multiple signs, they really should consider this lower cost alternative guiding our onslaught of tourists to one of our many features. I think I saw one of these type of signs when I visited Stonehenge. Who ordered the special?
Some reader boards have become icons. They do more than announce an Egg Hunt, Halloween Spooktacular, or a Daddy-Daughter Dance; they make you think (who paid for this reader board).
Of course, the city could strike a deal with a merchant and share the reader board space for consideration on the B&O tax.
And when you think about it, nothing says we have something special here more than a giant inflatable gorilla. Think of the bragging rights we would have over Steilacoom.
What am I worried about, anyway? If the city is still talking about the reader board, that must mean we are at least five years away from having them implement whatever they decide upon.
Maybe they could diplay the number of minutes until the new parks are opened. How many digits is that? Not sure the LED diplay width can accomodate it.
What a hoot! Not to overstate the obvious, but you are right on here. How about some “substance?” These signs simply call out that “there is no ‘there’ there” in DuPont.
How about a sign on I-5 directing people to the registered national historic district (DuPont village)?
There is a very BIG difference between a Quadrant marketing sign and a reader board reminding residents and visitors alike of upcoming events. Quadrant will be gone in a year and will take their ugly white and blue signs with them. I wonder how much they charged Centex to have “Bell Hill” put on their signs? Quadrant hasn’t had a real competitor in DuPont for eight years. There are people who work and live in this community, who are serving on volunteer boards, and working on the sign issues including re-writing the code and actually getting a National Historic District sign for the Historic Village. Everyone can be a critic. Get off your duff and contribute in a positive way.
Or in the least a sign from the state directing people to a museum. At least then it can succeed or fail on its own merit. But be warned that as far as Historic Neighborhoods are concerned they have some work to do to generate interest. Take a look at a Historic Neighborhood I am familiar with that is eerily similar to what Quadrant would have looked like circa 1919.
http://www.fordhomes.org/
Mike – that’s a very interesting neighborhood there in Dearborn, Mich. Very similar to DuPont as a company town! It looks like the residents got together and taxed themselves to finance neighborhood improvements.
Actually, PalGuy, the similarities are few and far between. That neighborhood is preserved and retains its historical integrity. It is governed by a covenant that ensures it remains a destination. Plus it is tied to a much more significant part of American history: the mechanization of rural American. Additionally, it is one of several destinations within the city. It was provided to be a blueprint of what actual vibrant and thriving registered historical neighborhood does to present itself. Besides, the people in that neighborhood have TWO supermarkets within walking distance.
Let’s get a covenant for the historic village. Then can we get a grocery store (or two)? Seriously, what would it take? Is this a taxing issue? After the miserable failure of the parks district measure on the 2007 ballot, I’m not really hopeful about the “share and share alike” spirit here.
I am not sure if they could form a neighborhood committee and get buy in from owners of historic properties. As far as the parks measure, it is not so simple to say people were unwilling to share. I think the measure was too open ended to give a blank check to the city without them first proving they could manage the parks we have.