W
wyliepoon
Guest
Link to article
City plans to sell old street signs for $10 each
2,000 to 2,500 replaced each year
James Cowan
National Post
Friday, February 09, 2007
Mr. Giambrone warned many of the signs decommissioned by the city are in dismal condition and may not be suitable for display.
"Some of them are pretty rusted. They've been up for 40 or 50 years literally -- I'm not sure if I'd want them up on my wall," he said.
The city will not sell any old signs with sharp or rusted edges.
The average street sign lasts between 10 and 12 years, according to Mr. Stopnicki. Despite the signs' long life, the city currently replaces 2,000 to 2,500 signs per year. Each sign costs between $50 and $60 to manufacture and install.
In addition to replacing damaged or faded signs, the city loses many signs to theft. Selling used signs may deter people from stealing the signs from their poles, according to Mr. Stopnicki. "That will hopefully be one of the results," he said.
City councillors will also be asked next week to approve a new look for Toronto's street signs. The new design features an upper curved segment marked with the city's logo, a middle section with the street name in white print on a blue background and a bottom section that identifies the nearest street address.
The signs can be modified to feature the logo of a local Business Improvement Area or the name of a neighbourhood instead of the city logo. The signs can also be manufactured using brushed steel for their upper and lower segments.
Mr. Stopnicki said city staff and residents at public meetings all endorsed the new design.
"This design was the one that everyone liked," he said. "This is very functional, it looks very modern."
The new signs will be installed over time as existing signs wear out.
Frat boys of Toronto, put down your hacksaws: You will soon be able to buy old street signs to decorate your rooms.
City staff have proposed selling decommissioned street signs to the public for $10. The idea was first raised last year during a series of public meetings about proposed changes to the city's signs, according to Robert Stopnicki, a director with transportation services.
"Many people were asking what we did with the old signs and saying 'I would love to buy an old sign from my street," Mr. Stopnicki said. "One woman wanted to buy a sign for the street where her children were born."
The city currently throws away its signs when they become damaged or too difficult to read. Under the new plan, the old markers will be saved after they are decommissioned and put into storage at the city's sign shop on Toryork Drive. A list of available signs will be posted on the city's Web site and interested residents will be able to order them by e-mail. Any signs that are not claimed after one year will be discarded.
Mr. Stopnicki noted Ottawa already sells its old street markers to the public.
Councillor Adam Giambrone, vice-chairman of the works committee, said he supports the idea of selling secondhand signs. "I've had a lot of requests from people," he said. "It's not going to be a big money generator for the city. It's just something people seem to want."
*****
When I went to Chicago, I visited the city store located at the Water Tower. They had a good selection of old street signs and L station signs on sale. Always the compulsive buyer, I bought an L station sign right on the spot, which now hangs on a column in my house.
I think the TTC should also get into the act of selling old signs.
City plans to sell old street signs for $10 each
2,000 to 2,500 replaced each year
James Cowan
National Post
Friday, February 09, 2007
Mr. Giambrone warned many of the signs decommissioned by the city are in dismal condition and may not be suitable for display.
"Some of them are pretty rusted. They've been up for 40 or 50 years literally -- I'm not sure if I'd want them up on my wall," he said.
The city will not sell any old signs with sharp or rusted edges.
The average street sign lasts between 10 and 12 years, according to Mr. Stopnicki. Despite the signs' long life, the city currently replaces 2,000 to 2,500 signs per year. Each sign costs between $50 and $60 to manufacture and install.
In addition to replacing damaged or faded signs, the city loses many signs to theft. Selling used signs may deter people from stealing the signs from their poles, according to Mr. Stopnicki. "That will hopefully be one of the results," he said.
City councillors will also be asked next week to approve a new look for Toronto's street signs. The new design features an upper curved segment marked with the city's logo, a middle section with the street name in white print on a blue background and a bottom section that identifies the nearest street address.
The signs can be modified to feature the logo of a local Business Improvement Area or the name of a neighbourhood instead of the city logo. The signs can also be manufactured using brushed steel for their upper and lower segments.
Mr. Stopnicki said city staff and residents at public meetings all endorsed the new design.
"This design was the one that everyone liked," he said. "This is very functional, it looks very modern."
The new signs will be installed over time as existing signs wear out.
Frat boys of Toronto, put down your hacksaws: You will soon be able to buy old street signs to decorate your rooms.
City staff have proposed selling decommissioned street signs to the public for $10. The idea was first raised last year during a series of public meetings about proposed changes to the city's signs, according to Robert Stopnicki, a director with transportation services.
"Many people were asking what we did with the old signs and saying 'I would love to buy an old sign from my street," Mr. Stopnicki said. "One woman wanted to buy a sign for the street where her children were born."
The city currently throws away its signs when they become damaged or too difficult to read. Under the new plan, the old markers will be saved after they are decommissioned and put into storage at the city's sign shop on Toryork Drive. A list of available signs will be posted on the city's Web site and interested residents will be able to order them by e-mail. Any signs that are not claimed after one year will be discarded.
Mr. Stopnicki noted Ottawa already sells its old street markers to the public.
Councillor Adam Giambrone, vice-chairman of the works committee, said he supports the idea of selling secondhand signs. "I've had a lot of requests from people," he said. "It's not going to be a big money generator for the city. It's just something people seem to want."
*****
When I went to Chicago, I visited the city store located at the Water Tower. They had a good selection of old street signs and L station signs on sale. Always the compulsive buyer, I bought an L station sign right on the spot, which now hangs on a column in my house.
I think the TTC should also get into the act of selling old signs.