Hamilton Gateway Sign

[fastcarsfreedom]

First off--Stoney Creek has a right to 'exist' despite the fact that it's no longer a political entity--would you snicker if there was an effort to remove signage around Westdale? Nonetheless, I'm sure there is some compromise possible that recognizes the Hamilton Gateway project and still is sensitive to those in the Creek who want their community identity protected.

As for the project--I'm not entirely sure how I feel about it. I frequently drive the 401 corridor and I must say--every municipality/town/community/county/district has been on this bandwagon for the past 10 or so years--these things exist at 401 off-ramps and all seem similar in style and spirit to these--Brantford, Chatham-Kent, Ridgetown, etc etc etc...regardless--of them all, I favor the "corporate brand" version--like matt and millstone, I've always liked that wordmark and logo--since they are key to the cities branding, why not use them? The others are unimaginative block letters...perhaps there is an opportunity to build on the "corporate brand" alternative by adding additional elements.

The problem with these type of initiatives is that they have a finite lifespan and--as I've seen in my travels--are subject to damage, wear and vandalism. The city has to be absolutely committed to making this work--no 'deferred maintenance' or lack of upkeep because budget constraints crop up years down the road. The final design also needs to be a 'classic'--not something that will age quickly. I remember a proposal back in the late 1980s to plant vertical i-beams around downtown with stencil-styled font reading "Kinggate, Maingate, Jamesgate" etc...imagine how that would've aged?