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Signage, advertising and video billboards in Victoria


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#21 Rob Randall

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Posted 11 January 2009 - 10:10 PM

And your point was? Or as usual i'll bet you didn't have one.


I'm not sure what you mean by "point". I didn't intend to offer my opinion, other than by putting quotes around "illegal" I'm saying that while technically against regulations it's hardly a war crime.

But since you want to know what I think, I hate blank walls but the cure for blank walls is not billboards, it's development or windows or art or vertical gardens.

Some of those Toronto signs are

Victoria turfed out all billboards in the 1970s and on the whole I think it's probably a good idea. I don't think billboards would work as good here as they do in downtown Vancouver.

As someone who does commercial art I appreciate good signage. I really think we could loosen up our signage laws without giving in to massive Pat Bay highway-sized billboards in our Downtown. In fact, I tried lobbying for a "electric signage district" on the corners of Blanshard and Yates in order to recreate the dazzling neon era of the theatre district of mid 20th century Victoria.

There are many classic examples of great illuminated signage in Victoria's past, including the Sunbeam Bread sign that was at Douglas and Yates and the HBC sign on the Hudson's Bay building.

I really like the signage on the Scott building at Hillside and Douglas--the clock and the Columbia Fuels backlit signs. Those are exceptions though, most signs now are cheap plywood and look like they were designed by the owner's nephew.

I hate the SOFMC sign because unlike the old Memorial Arena sign, what is actually scheduled at SOFMC rarely makes an appearance. The prime goal of advertising is to communicate and that sign often seems to communicate everything but what the new arena is actually selling.

#22 Phil McAvity

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Posted 11 January 2009 - 11:50 PM

You seemed to think that saying,....."illegal" advertising signs" parlayed your opinion quite clearly yet it left me asking nothing but questions. Rather than trying to be coy I much prefer that things be laid out clearly so they can be easily understood, in fact it was one of the first things I learned in writing class in college. While I might get a little self-satisfying smirk out of being really subtle, it doesn't help much if no one understands what i'm talking about. I'm also not sure why you have such a steadfast reluctance to offer an opinion on things because I kind of figured that's why we are here-because we have an opinion about Victoria and the way it should be (ie; more vibrant). While I don't have opinions on particular billboards of days gone by I do believe that the city would be better served by eliminating the sign bylaw. Not only would we save tax money by eliminating completely unecessary jobs like "sign bylaw inspectors" (boy that's an important gig!), but I think it could get Victoria back to the days when it never looked more vibrant. I also really don't think that your job uniquely qualifies you to appreciate a good sign any more than anyone else. In fact I don't think i've heard a more arrogant comment on this forum in the two years or so i've been coming here. Anyone can appreciate a good sign. I can't count all the great signs i've seen.

I agree about the SOFA video billboard though since there are few things i'm more interested in than upcoming events and it always kind of pisses me off that they never tell us. I can only assume that the reason they don't use the billboard for that is because it seems that the demand for everything they hold there is so great that they don't need to use it for that so RG makes a bit on the side advertising for others.
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#23 G-Man

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Posted 12 January 2009 - 08:39 AM

I like the SOFMC sign. I am glad it is there. I wish we had more video billboards.

#24 Caramia

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Posted 12 January 2009 - 11:21 AM

...
Nowadays most people die of a sort of creeping common sense, and discover when it is too late that the only things one never regrets are one's mistakes.
Oscar Wilde (1854 - 1900), The Picture of Dorian Gray, 1891

#25 Rob Randall

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Posted 12 January 2009 - 01:38 PM

Some of those Toronto signs are


I forgot to finish that sentence. I was saying that some of those Toronto signs add to the city's ambience yet others are eyesores and cover the windows of nice old buildings.

#26 Rob Randall

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Posted 12 January 2009 - 01:47 PM

I also really don't think that your job uniquely qualifies you to appreciate a good sign any more than anyone else. In fact I don't think i've heard a more arrogant comment on this forum in the two years or so i've been coming here. Anyone can appreciate a good sign. I can't count all the great signs i've seen.


I never said only me or other artists are qualified to appreciate a sign. Try re-reading my post. As a graphic artist I can appreciate the craftsmanship and talent in a well-made sign and artists have unique knowledge of how challenging some of the more technical and creative aspects of design can be--things the average person might miss, like how hard it is to attractively and legibly align type on a bezier curve. A carpenter can appreciate a fine piece of furniture. Obviously (to most people anyway) it doesn't mean the average Joe in the street can't appreciate it.

#27 Vic Skyscraper Fan

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Posted 13 January 2009 - 09:52 PM

I really think Downtown (Douglas St) could use some more neon signs. It would add to the vibrancy at night and would also brighten it up a bit. When im standing at the bus stop at 12 o'clock on a monday night. Victoria looks very scummy mostly beacause it's pretty dark and the only people around are the homeless. I think adding lighting would increase overall saftey for pedestrians by increasing visibility. It sure as heckfire works in downtown Vancouver.

#28 Rob Randall

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Posted 05 March 2009 - 12:44 PM

Rather than start or calve off a new thread I thought we could add "signage" to the title of this thread.

Sitka Surfboards of 538 Yates has a wood shingle-backed sign installed overtop the old "Carnaby Street" plywood sign featured back when it was a bohemian clothing store.

The City informed Sitka that wood shingle is forbidden in this case because it is an old-timey residential material, not a heritage urban form.

Sitka protested, saying the sign is smaller than that allowed and that heritage photos show additional painted signage at the top of the two-storey building as well as between the upper windows and if the City is intent on them following what is allowed they may take advantage of the additional modern signage, including adding bright neon.

Council agreed with Planning and voted unanimously this morning to have Sitka remove the wood shingles from the facade.

#29 G-Man

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Posted 05 March 2009 - 01:28 PM

Wow Councillor Madof needs to be reigned in! I thought Fortin was elected Mayor?

But so far this year we have had:

Roger's Chocolates
Kirk Hall
Morley Soda
Sitka Surfboard

#30 Mike K.

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Posted 05 March 2009 - 04:03 PM

Rather than start or calve off a new thread I thought we could add "signage" to the title of this thread.


Done.

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#31 Phil McAvity

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Posted 06 April 2009 - 05:53 PM

Rather than start or calve off a new thread I thought we could add "signage" to the title of this thread.

Sitka Surfboards of 538 Yates has a wood shingle-backed sign installed overtop the old "Carnaby Street" plywood sign featured back when it was a bohemian clothing store.

The City informed Sitka that wood shingle is forbidden in this case because it is an old-timey residential material, not a heritage urban form.

Sitka protested, saying the sign is smaller than that allowed and that heritage photos show additional painted signage at the top of the two-storey building as well as between the upper windows and if the City is intent on them following what is allowed they may take advantage of the additional modern signage, including adding bright neon.

Council agreed with Planning and voted unanimously this morning to have Sitka remove the wood shingles from the facade.



Taxpayers actually pay people good money to deal with things like this-things that I find just amazingly trivial. Not only that but i'll bet if you asked most people which city looked more vibrant and alive-Victoria from the 1940's with big, brash signs all over the place (before government starting telling us all exactly how to live) versus the Victoria of today-i'll bet most people would say Victoria back then.
In chains by Keynes

#32 Phil McAvity

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Posted 06 April 2009 - 10:55 PM

I noticed and like the sign at Juan De Fuca, just like I like the Save-On sign. Why no kerfuffle about it you ask Mike? I'd say two reasons. One-people have gotten used to seeing the one at Save-On and all the idiot naysayers have all been proved wrong about it causing armageddon. The other reason is because it is in the WestComs where unlike Victoria, people aren't terrified of every little change.

NParker, i'd say the "art" out front of the Arena makes a mockery of itself.

The thing I could never understand is, why does anyone care what is advertised on the arena sign? I couldn't care less If RG properties advertised for booze, escort agencies, cigarettes and spermicidal jelly.
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#33 Holden West

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Posted 17 April 2009 - 09:18 AM

from The Falls thread:

^ Actually some of the neon signs we used have around this city would disagree with your last point. I am not sure when we got stuffy but it is the very recent past.


I think we got stuffy in the early 60s.

Some great vintage Victoria neon:







http://www.bcarchive..._98/i_02166.gif
"Beaver, ahoy!""The bridge is like a magnet, attracting both pedestrians and over 30,000 vehicles daily who enjoy the views of Victoria's harbour. The skyline may change, but "Big Blue" as some call it, will always be there."
-City of Victoria website, 2009

#34 Phil McAvity

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Posted 24 April 2009 - 09:54 PM

^exactly.

But do you think any of those signs would pass Victoria's precious, micromanaging sign bylaw today? I doubt it. Victoria looked so much more vibrant back when businesses decided how to promote themselves without government telling them what to say and how to say it.
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#35 Mike K.

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Posted 25 August 2009 - 01:38 PM

The Brown Bros. office on the corner of Blanshard and View has a video billboard mounted on the roof facing Blanshard.

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#36 VicHockeyFan

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Posted 25 August 2009 - 01:47 PM

The Brown Bros. office on the corner of Blanshard and View has a video billboard mounted on the roof facing Blanshard.


I'll get a photo on the way to the meeting tonight.

#37 VicHockeyFan

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Posted 27 August 2009 - 03:57 PM

The Brown Bros. office on the corner of Blanshard and View has a video billboard mounted on the roof facing Blanshard.


http://www.imagecabi...7b0641a46161f4c.



#38 Mike K.

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Posted 27 August 2009 - 04:06 PM

VHF, I linked the large photo in your post.

You can try hosting the photos on http://imageshack.us which should resize the photo for you.

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#39 G-Man

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Posted 27 August 2009 - 06:03 PM

I know Robert Young.

#40 Marilyn

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Posted 06 September 2009 - 10:01 PM

This sign was on the newly renovated building located at 715 Johnson Street beside The York Hotel. It has since been painted over with brick-red paint.



Does anyone know what the origin of this fragment was?

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