Seattle Skyline Sign Legislation Proposed: Let the NIMBYism Commence
Depending on who you ask, the legislation change proposed to the Seattle City Council on Tuesday that would let certain skyscrapers put large signs on their tops is either a "minor change" or a "shocking give-away of our skyline."
The proposal, if passed, would initially only affect one company, Russell Investments at the former WaMu Center on Second Avenue. But eventually, it could include between six and 10 other buildings. It would allow skyscraper tenants who occupy at least 200,000 square-feet of space to put either four 324 square-foot signs on four sides of their own top floors, or two 628 square-foot signs on two sides.
The signs would have to be simple and white, with no flashing or rotating allowed.
The square-foot figure makes the size sound enormous, but when viewed in the context of a 598 foot-tall, 42-story skyscraper like the Russell Investments Center, the effect is more like the byline is to this article.
Here's a mock-up of what the sign-adorned building would look like. The sign is that teensy-weensy white line near the top of the middle building. Can't see it? Squint more.
http://blogs.seattleweekly.com/dailyweekly/2010/12/seattle_skyline_sign_legislati.php