Much Ado About Signs
I would’ve thought that creating jobs and maximizing retail sales would be the top priorities here. Apparently there’s a much more important issue.
People’s livelihoods, the local tax base — that’s all well and good. Just be sure to comply with the local sign ordinance. Pennants — and anything else that can flap in the wind — are forbidden in Port Angeles. The only exceptions are for car dealers, and the banners that the city places across First Street and Front Street.
Gateway Tavern owner Vivian Bertelson, whose own sign is in violation of the city’s ordinance, noted the irony. “Technically, the city is the biggest offender.”
Herbert and Maria Lutz, owners of Maria’s Mexican Restaurant, spent $6,300 on a new sign, which would replace an older sign of the same dimensions. Then they found out their sign is prohibited under the sign ordinance, which took effect in 2002.
About three years ago a local merchant complained about too much clutter on the sidewalk in front of one of the antique shops on First Street. This set off a brouhaha of complaints, counter-complaints and confusion.
Aren’t there more important things to worry about?
People’s livelihoods, the local tax base — that’s all well and good. Just be sure to comply with the local sign ordinance. Pennants — and anything else that can flap in the wind — are forbidden in Port Angeles. The only exceptions are for car dealers, and the banners that the city places across First Street and Front Street.
Gateway Tavern owner Vivian Bertelson, whose own sign is in violation of the city’s ordinance, noted the irony. “Technically, the city is the biggest offender.”
Herbert and Maria Lutz, owners of Maria’s Mexican Restaurant, spent $6,300 on a new sign, which would replace an older sign of the same dimensions. Then they found out their sign is prohibited under the sign ordinance, which took effect in 2002.
About three years ago a local merchant complained about too much clutter on the sidewalk in front of one of the antique shops on First Street. This set off a brouhaha of complaints, counter-complaints and confusion.
Aren’t there more important things to worry about?
Labels: Gateway Tavern, Herbert Lutz, Maria Lutz, Maria’s Mexican Restaurant, Port Angeles sign ordinance, Vivian Bertelson
posted by Tom Harper at 5:10 PM
33 Comments:
Vivian Bertelson says she was surprised to find that for most businesses the city is a flutter-free zone.
Flutter-free zone, ha ha ha, that really cracks me up. Hell, the theme for PA is chaos.
Never mind, carry on.
What will they bully people for next?
I'm going to Oregon in the morning to meet a blogging lady friend and her friends and family.
You're in charge while I'm gone, good luck with that, ha ha ha.
City is anti business....too many codes to violate, too many rules. Everything is a permit or it's not allowed, or it's something you have to pay for. No wonder more businesses are folding. Rents are too high, the city has it's head up it's arse, and they outlaw every potential way for a business to stand out, and make itself known. A business NEEDS banners and a-frame signs, and other ways to be noticed! The building owners don't allow much in the way of signage...and it's darn hard for people to even NOTICE you. The one way streets don't help!
This town is doing all it can to drive out every last business, and fold up, and go bankrupt.
"You're in charge while I'm gone, good luck with that, ha ha ha."
Quick! Someone re-route Highway 101 so BBC can't come back!
What about stuff on the sidewalks? Today I had to navigate through a bunch of stuff in front of that new antique store on first. I don't mind racks and merchandise near the buildings, but does it have to be scattered through the sidewalk so it's tough to walk past?
I saw a comment on this story in PDN that hit it home. It was something like fluttering signs are an eyesore, but junky and abandoned cars are A-O-K in the city. So true!
I want our town to look nice. The priorities in our town are upside down. Do they not see the junk or do they just think it is art?
Also, this story makes me want to go to Maria's!
ummm....our sidewalks are full of rusted junk art....so, it's hard to tell the difference between junk and not junk in this town.
The A frame signs and banners aren't as much of a problem as: a.) officer seqway and his speeding, b.) the "art" with non-standard bases that are very easy to trip on, and, c.) the empty storefronts
I think that this town needs a swift kick to it's over-inflated ego and learn some humility and common sense.
As for BBC, he's like a feral cat that you've fed once, he'll come back.
Don't we just love all the naysayers we have in this town?
"Rusted Junk Art" sure gets alot of attention and I watch folks enjoy that junk everyday.
As to the fluddering banners, I have one that's been up for at least 4yrs now and no one has said a thing. Matter of fact it's time for me to put up a new one.
WAIT, you're telling me that you have a fluttering banner that you've had up for years, but you don't get cited? What are you doing blowing the code compliance dude?
Why does this town slam some, while ignoring others? Makes no sense. There is no reason that some businesses get cited, while others do not. This just adds to my disgust of the downtown and the city that pretends all is well.
As for people enjoying the "rusted art"..I've heard more people joking and laughing at them than enjoying. The problem is toooo much of the same style, same artist. When you've seen one, you've seen them all. Fat, headless, rusted. A few in compromising poses (if you look from the right angle) which could be considered obscene. Mildly amusing, at best. Not very inspired, or creative, overall. Sort of a reflection on the town, in general.
The "art" with the backdrop of closing and struggling businesses seems phony and simply overpriced window dressing. Whistling in the wind. But what can you expect....lame is as lame does.
Where is the downtown business association trying to HELP fix the problems? Why don't they aid the business owners and fix the dumb laws? Help them to be profitable? Why don't they mediate with the city about these ordinances and how they should be enforced?
I've heard this over-and-over..the question remains: why don't they do anything at all instead of the waste-of-time lame promotions? They stink! They're all so mid 80's and not trendy or even remotely interesting.
Every year, it's the the lame themes, the stupid promotions, the constant upbeat sound bites in the local paper and in ads. It is all very "yawn". It rings of b.s., total and complete bull. I can't stand it. I don't want to even BE downtown when one of the "events" is going on....the merchants who are taking part all look so desperate and depressed. They greet you at the door with this look, like the last ugly girl hoping you'll be their prom date. Their eyes BEG you to stay, to shop, to buy something. Creeps me out. It is pathetic.
I can only guess that the downtown association is run by sycophant, sadistic, ego stroking, lazy non-visionaries who gleefully suck valuable resources ($$) away from the remaining poor struggling businesses in exchange for false hope, and upbeat promises, illusions of how more art will draw customers and how the events are so successful. Empty words, for an empty downtown.
If I were a downtown merchant I'd shoot myself. I feel so sorry for those folks.
There is nothing I hate worse than inept fake PR. This town has no life in it, no fun, and it's all so sad....no wonder I can't stand to go downtown anymore.
Of the eleven pieces for the "Avenue Of the People", there are only two that are very well done. Those two are the mother and child and the man pushing the woman in the wheel chair. The rest are variations on a theme that has limited possibilities. Headless, armless, warped and rusty can only take you so far and we passed that point long, long ago.
Let's be honest. Mr. Stokes is a big fish in a little pond and his polarizing abstract style is better suited to Seattle or Tacoma. But then he'd be a little fish in a very big pond and he wouldn't be getting the over the top adulations from civic and business institions. If you've read Barb Fredericks's monthly gushings over Mr. Stokes in the PADA newsletter, you know what I mean. It's like reading an issue of Tiger Beat, only more sticky.
Art that was relevant to the town and to it's history would be more appropriate. Or even, dare I say it, Native art from the local tribes. Anything would be better than the weird metal stuff seemingly dropped off a speeding scrap metal truck that currently "graces" our streets.
Hey anom 11:10
You have spent the time to write, I assume there is a modecum of caring for the downtown. Clearly PA is not your hometown, but the town you have chosen to live in.Why don't you get involved with the downtown association, elections are in Jan. You have stated many problems.Perhaps you have some ideas for change. You have also made clear your sepratist and sexist views.My bet is your balls arn't big enough.You are Certainly not as couragous as any merchant that I know.Drop the armament and be part of the change.
I agree with Anon 11:10. It is insulting to see the crap that keeps being put out about how everything is great, and getting better. Any one with half a brain can see that this is just not so.
And, to answer Anon 7:53, you might think about WHY there are so many "naysayers", as you say. Do you think they have some kind of Tourettes Syndrome that makes them involuntarily spout things they don't believe, and that are not true?
As a business person, you have to listen to, and be responsive to the public. Remember the phrase "The customer is always right"? Yet you want to argue with them, insult them, and call them "naysayers" because they don't like what they see??
I don't shop downtown, and when asked, will tell anyone why.
You say I'm not from here....I AM. Born and raised. (But, unlike most of my contemporary, I also escaped to get a world view.) The town I left is not the town I returned to. When I left the downtown association wasn't a bunch of fawning, blowhard sycophants. It had people who had energy, caring, and DID something. We had Heritage Days and Derby Days, and there was a life to it. No more.
Why would I want to JOIN an organization that should be, simply, disbanded? The culture of it has become so distressed, so twisted, and pathetic. Seriously, downright pathetic. Kill the poor thing, and put it out of it's misery, and see what can rise up in its place. It's outlived its usefulness.
New ideas do not come out of "been there, tried that" mentality. No fresh ideas can come out the stench of stale and outdated.
As for separatist and sexist views...that is to laugh. I have no "'nads", I'm an educated, middle aged WOMAN. I'd venture to say that what must have thrown you is that I'm educated? Must be it.
The town is very sad. It makes me sad to live here. It's bad enough to watch my aging, dying parents...but to see the town that they had so much pride and hope in, as faded and feeble as they are...is indeed heartbreaking.
Ok born here educated woman.Be the change.
When Arla was the face of the PADA things actually got done. I know people made fun her and thought she was just a frumpy relic, but she got out there on the street and went from business to business and knew what was going on.
I never see Barb walking around downtown. If it weren't for her photo on that silly newsletter I wouldn't know what she looked like. I picture her in the PADA office with several boxes of Krispy Kreme donuts writing, as Art Critic so aptly put it, drivel about Bob Stokes. That and maybe come up with ultra lame "theme" ideas ... everyone dress up like cowboys for the cruise ship that may or may not come in!
Get rid of those hideous rusting piece-of-crap "sculptures!"
Anonymous said...
Ok born here educated woman.Be the change.
4:00 PM, September 17, 2009
I didn't write any of the posts this references, to be clear from the onset.
So, Anon 4:00, What exactly are you suggesting be done to turn things around in down town PA? Please give us all your detailed prescription for salvation. You suggest she/we "get involved". In what? Leadership that operates in secret, and disregards any and all public/member comments? This applies to the PADA AND the City Council.
Throw the bums out. Enough of the "same old" that has resulted in all the troubles this town is struggling through.
" My bet is your balls arn't big enough."
I'll throw that right back at you: Do you have enough courage to say " Enough is enough!", and work for real meaningful change in Port Angeles? To NOT support the same old tired crap that gets said and promoted in PA, year after year.. with no results? To NOT support the same old people and regimes that have held Port Angeles hostage, and stagnant for all these years?
Can you do that?
You bet I can - and have - and will continue to do so.
A few suggestions; support downtown businesses,move into some of the empty buildings, residents in downtown areas reduce crime and increase spending.Volunteer to organize an event with local merchants, schools, local clubs to include the downtown area, if you don't have the orgazational skills to do that then support the events that do happen, give helpful feedback about what you'd like to see or how to make it better.The DOT settlement with PA has given lot's of money to be spent specificaly on economic development got any ideas for businesses that would bring more traffic to our area?
Look, I don't care for the old dog network here either. I am a new comer that has been told more than once that if I don't like the way it's done here I can go back to California, which by the way is not where I'm from.
I have two businesses I employ local people and I have been cited for every infraction going downtown.From sign ordinances,(the code enforcer is a woman and I don't think she gets on her back or her knees for anybody) to b.s. problems with electricity,and did you know it's against some sort of code to have music playing out on the side walk, to not paying my downtown association fees. I would love to see that thorn in everybodies side go away.
The problem I had with the letter was the insulting tone of the desperation, depression and last ugly girl blah, blah. The writer and several others are saying that they won't go downtown anymore. Your hurting the wrong people then.
You just haven't been here long enough, then. Eventually you'll give up like the rest of us who have HAD businesses downtown. Who have been cited and fee'd and nickled-and-dimed out of business.
Many, many of us have given up hope, and given up on ever seeing a turn around. Meanwhile, going downtown is a miserable memory of all the money we've LOST investing in the local economy.
Plus, what is down there? I can think of three stores that might actually have something of interest. I don't need used "collectible" stuff. I don't need a massage, or a photo taken. I don't eat candy. I don't need clothing that is either too "la-de-dah" or too trashy/gothish. I do not need furniture. I cannot afford to eat out at 20bucks a plate, or pay 6 bucks for a beer. I only drink one cup of coffee a day, and make that at home.
What else is there?
What downtown is there aside from: a.) junk stores; b.)coffee houses, c.)furniture store, d.)clothing stores for very specific customers -- with rather high prices, e.)restaurants which are expensive, but the food quality is ...eh, uninspired.
The bookstores... are good, the stationary store, used to be better, the outdoor stores, occasionally. But other than that would I travel downtown for ....Twilight junk? Nope. Tourist junk. Nope.... Old used junk. Nope. I don't need anything at DSHS. I don't need anything at the Armory. I don't see anything else that would draw me.
That's it for OUR downtown.
"I don't see anything else that would draw me."
Studio Bob. Surely you've been down to El Bob's monthly soirees and basked in the glow of the Man Who Gave Us Art?
"it's against some sort of code to have music playing out on the side walk"
Well somebody needs to tell Brown's that. They're always cranking out crappy music, making me pass right by them quickly. But they also complain when Coog's lets local bands play on the sidewalk during event weekends. Go figure.
Seems to me the "old timers" are the problem around here -- they don't want anything to change and keep chirping how great it is.
Then there are the newcomers who see the downtown as one with potential....and really would LIKE a cute little town to go hang out and feel all Mayberry.
Then there are the people who left, came back and see the cracks in the makeup and the sagging boobs of downtown. They know the old timer's stories, and they would really like to get excited about the newcomers visions...but, mostly, they see that the losers stayed home and were busy in the meantime. Essentially those voted "least likely to succeed" are now in positions of power, and holding on with both hands, and squealing like stuck pigs. Don't say anything is wrong (fingers in ears) "LA LA LA". They're the ones who quash good ideas, who are defensive, that promote ideas that don't jibe with reality.
There seem to be common characteristics: a.) no ambition to leave town, b.) never been anywhere, did anything -- certainly no higher education, c.)couldn't make it anywhere else
I think we are seeing the clash of the angry,jealous, and sad people left behind and those who returned, and those who moved here BY CHOICE.
God willing, the smart and ambitious with a clue will overcome. Then, town might have a chance to turn the corner and make something of itself.
In the meantime, it's going to get a lot uglier with this economy with the lack of direction...I hope town survives.
It's really hard to sell a pig, even with lipstick on it.
It's incredibly difficult to sell something that doesn't live up to the hype.
It's impossible to infuse freshness into stale promotions, advertisements, or events. Once they go stale it's like hoping sour milk will be better tomorrow. (What's worse is I suspect some people around this town have gotten used to the taste of soured milk...and are trying to tell the rest of it that it is yummy.)
Much of this back-and-forth argument I've read on this thread is between the sour milk drinkers, and those who prefer something fresh and tasty.
We need to disband the entire set of promotion vehicles in this town -- no PADA, no PABA, no Chamber, no whatever else, and step back -- and decide what it is town should be, then work towards that.
We must face it...the 70's are long gone, the 80's thankfully so, the 90's and the boom bubble is also past, the 00's are almost done with -- so what does Port Angeles need to do, to position itself right for the TEEN's Twenties, and beyond?
All that nonsense from the past should be examined for the germ of a good idea, but then re-built from the ground up...and then, maybe then, we'd have a fighting chance to become a successful town.
Anon 7:19 "You bet I can - and have - and will continue to do so.
A few suggestions; support downtown businesses,move into some of the empty buildings, residents in downtown areas reduce crime and increase spending.Volunteer to organize an event with local merchants, schools, local clubs to include the downtown area, if you don't have the orgazational skills to do that then support the events that do happen, give helpful feedback about what you'd like to see or how to make it better.The DOT settlement with PA has given lot's of money to be spent specificaly on economic development got any ideas for businesses that would bring more traffic to our area?
Look, I don't care for the old dog network here either. I am a new comer that has been told more than once that if I don't like the way it's done here I can go back to California, which by the way is not where I'm from."
I'm not a negative type, and put a LOT of effort into trying to promote different ideas for the business community in Port Angeles. I joined the clubs, went to the meetings, and, as we see in todays' PDN, even the leadership is operating in secret, not coordinating their efforts with fellow councilmembers. They are being investigated by the State.
We elected Betsy to help things be different, and her voting record has been almost 100% for the same old stuff.
With the exception of Cherie Kidd, all the folks that promise to offer a difference in the way things have been done, all have dismal, indistinguishable track records, once elected.
How do we get out of this rut?!?!?
You know, one thing I noticed from posts like this is it's always about the downtown. Of course downtown cores are important, but ours is... what? five blocks? Even if we wanted to, we couldn't fit everything that I associate with "downtown" (museums, concert halls, trendy upscale shops full of crap I'd never buy, plenty of green space) in ours.
Meantime, there are plenty of problems with the rest of the town. Pretend you're a Twilight fan that touched down in Seatac and are driving to Forks. The first thing you see in Port Angeles is the large, vacant K-Mart building. Then you see various little shops, a Safeway strip mall, a trailer selling porn, some hotels and fast food joints. Then the highway divides at this asphalt triangle. Some places are better than others on the way downtown, but the nicest building is probably the liquor store. There are vacant lots and dilapidated buildings. Suddenly, just before downtown, the highway turns left onto a completely different street. And what a street it is! Boarded up taverns, parking lot, the side of the Elks building proudly displaying alcohol signs. Get further out and there's a nice park, a bank, Safeway, the old court house... and then a Goodwill and a bunch of run-down apartments. Then suddenly a residential area, a school (on a highway? or is this a road?), a completely messed up intersection and... oh hey, now it's a highway again! And they're off to Forks.
See, tourists coming through don't even get to downtown. Before they get within a mile of it they get a pretty good notion of what Port Angeles is all about... and they keep going.
Now, locals... that's another story. But like I said, we don't have enough room downtown to create enough of a draw. The biggest draw downtown is probably DSHS. Otherwise it's just a small collection of shops, boutiques and restaurants. I'll go down if I'm looking for a book, or getting parts for my bike, but sorry downtown merchants, there's not a lot there to bring me downtown.
""residents in downtown areas reduce crime""
Yeah, yeah yeah, right out of Jane Jacobs "Death and Life of American Cities". Got it. However, the Lee Hotel renovation has a fair number of people in it, doesn't it? Seems that there is a fair amount of crime associated with that.
But the real joke is this bump on the road's local rag doesn't publish crime statistics, crime log, police beat..whatever...so the average citizen has no idea what crime there might be. It's all in a nice hermetically sealed bubble. We get no local news -- aside from happy news and superficial stuff. If we knew what crimes there were -- if we knew what evil lurks...
But, most of the crime, I suspect is not really "downtown". I've had enough stolen from my car and yard to know that more theft is in the greater PA area. But, without a crime log people aren't motivated to organize neighborhood watch groups, or even be on the lookout for evil-doers. Seems to me that our local paper is doing a disservice to the area by not having a specific police beat, or doing a daily, or weekly, police blotter column.
The lone article about how some guy was trying to lure kids into his car wasn't even posted online.
For the most part, people in Port Angeles think we don't have crime, except for the occasional oddity.
" Even if we wanted to, we couldn't fit everything that I associate with "downtown" (museums, concert halls, trendy upscale shops full of crap I'd never buy, plenty of green space) in ours."
So, what IS "downtown" supposed to be, if it is to be successful? Is Port Angeles trying to rely on its' own people to sustain itself, or is it trying to rely on outsiders, tourists, to survive?
If it is going to be "locals", then the types of businesses have to offer goods and services so they don't all just drive over to Sequim for everything.
Problem with that scenario is that consumers support the big chain stores, and they already have been built in Sequim. Not enough residents in Port Angeles to justify building another one here.
If the downtown/city is going to try to rely on outsiders/tourists, it has to offer them something they can't get more easily somewhere else.. AND be relevant to their travel plans and goals. As was said previously, they are not going to be buying a painting at an art studio as they head for Victoria, or to go camping.
So, what is Port Angeles trying to be?
I've only lived in PA for 9 months but it seems that this town consistently rejects progress and all things logical, including a stronger economy. Whose great idea was it to not allow new signs after 2002? Perhaps I'm just bitter because I eat at Maria's restaurant frequently and I hate that they are going through all this mess over a SIGN. It's not like it had a controversial picture of a half-naked person on it. Seriously, what's the big deal, PA? Is there sign or banner any worse than that googly-eyed pirate girl painted on the side of the building on First St? Oh, but that's OK b/c it's ON the building. That's not trashy or anything.
Speaking of things that need improving, the ferry terminal is hideously ugly. It looks like the last terminal before the concetration camp.
Before the city spends another few million on something else, re-designing that should be a priority.
You know, Bob Stokes is winning, because you are even talking about him when the post is about signs! It makes me sick!
"It makes me sick!"
Yeah, those things on Laurel Street make me wanna puke, too!!
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