Kill the Gateway Sign,....

FairHamilton · #1 Posted **Aug 13, 2008, 12:00 AM**

...and invest the money in City Hall!!!

That's got my vote. Who else is in?

Jon Dalton · #2 Posted **Aug 13, 2008, 12:13 AM**

Awesome. How about building a list of useless projects that should be axed so they have no excuse for going half-ass on the basics.

Millstone · #3 Posted **Aug 13, 2008, 12:35 AM**

nope

markbarbera · #4 Posted **Aug 13, 2008, 1:26 AM**

I'll take a pass on that. I like the gateway concept.

raisethehammer · #5 Posted **Aug 13, 2008, 3:19 AM**

I agree with Fair Hamilton! All the designs suck and nobody cares about them anyhow.
Use the money to light up the Skyway, Lift Bridge and High Level Bridge. People will remember that more than some stupid 'H' logo with weeds all around it.

http://flickr.com/photos/smileystew/1630271467/
http://flickr.com/photos/smileystew/...n/photostream/
http://flickr.com/photos/gigapic/2270938546/
http://flickr.com/photos/kmcniece/2597529456/

matt602 · #6 Posted **Aug 13, 2008, 5:18 AM**

I'm agreeing with Mark, I like the gateway project. I also like RTH's idea of lighting up bridges. I never thought of it before, but I can't believe it hasn't already been done.

flar · #7 Posted **Aug 13, 2008, 11:56 AM**

Gateways are pointless. If I were putting them in I'd want them at the edge of the Hamilton CMA so it says "Welcome to Metropolitan Hamilton." Put one on the QEW at the beginning of Burlington too. It's time we took ownership of Burlington.

raisethehammer · #8 Posted **Aug 13, 2008, 12:17 PM**

let's put one at the start of the QEW at Hwy 427. "Welcome to Hamilton" That would be awesome!

Millstone · #9 Posted **Aug 13, 2008, 12:34 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by raisethehammer

let's put one at the start of the QEW at Hwy 427. "Welcome to Hamilton" That would be awesome!

No, that wouldn't make any sense and would be retarded.

Quote:

I agree with Fair Hamilton! All the designs suck and nobody cares about them anyhow.

That's a pretty bold statement. Who did you poll? You are wrong.

raisethehammer · #10 Posted **Aug 13, 2008, 12:41 PM**

geez. lighten up bro. you think I'm serious about a sign at the 427?? get a sense of humour or go back to bed.

As for 'nobody cares about them'. I was referring to people driving along the highway.
I've never, not once, heard of someone visiting a town because of their 'gateway' sign on the highway. Nor does it do anything to a city's image.
A signature piece of architecture, like city hall, does WAY more to enhance a city's image.

SteelTown · #11 Posted **Aug 13, 2008, 12:56 PM**

I would rather have the city invest the signs inside the city, not next to highways. Stuff like I love NY signs, the cool Amsterdam sign inside a park, etc.

FairHamilton · #12 Posted **Aug 13, 2008, 12:56 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Millstone

No, that wouldn't make any sense and would be retarded.

That's a pretty bold statement. Who did you poll? You are wrong.

No poll, but lots of comments can be found here: http://www.myhamilton.ca/myhamilton/...dyComments.htm

Some good, some bad. Personally, I think none of proposed truly encompass the greater points of Hamilton, i.e. waterfalls, Cootes, escarpment, the people - well some of them anyways.... It will be a static sign on the side of the highway.

I particularly like the one about after driving across Canada the best one being in Regina. Try to find a picture of that one on the net, in my quick search on the net I haven't been able, not even on the Regina website (slowest site known to man). If signs are so important how come it's so hard to find the one which one person purports to be the best in Canada.

If they are looking for $3.5M extra to spend on the exterior finishing of City Hall, I say they start with the Gateway Sign.

BTW, it's 2008 isn't using the word 'retarded' considered insensitive, inconsiderate, and politically incorrect?

BrianE · #13 Posted **Aug 13, 2008, 1:20 PM**

Yeah, have to go with FairHamilton on this one. Once that concrete is up there we're stuck with it for the next 50 years. We can build a gateway sign whenever, there's no time limit. Lets put it off for the next 2 -3 or 5 years, there's no rush.

If council really wants to pinch penny's I would be ok with using Limestone instead of Marble. Save a few bucks there, but definitley not concrete, no matter how polished it is.

raisethehammer · #14 Posted **Aug 13, 2008, 2:16 PM**

permanent public art in the harbour/cootes paradise would be better. pretty much anything would be better than one of these idiotic signs.
Regina has the nicest one in Canada eh? I'll have to plan a visit there to check it out.

raisethehammer · #15 Posted **Aug 13, 2008, 2:17 PM**

that amsterdam sign is awesome.
In fact, I'd love to see this $3.5 million go towards our new public art plan. Make a splash with a bunch of new projects at once.
Again, anything is better than this.....

highwater · #16 Posted **Aug 13, 2008, 2:21 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by raisethehammer

permanent public art in the harbour/cootes paradise would be better.

I can't agree with you there. Although I love the Urban Moorings Project, I'd hate to see anything manmade made permanent. Cootes is one of the most important wetland restoration projects in the entire great lakes, certainly the most important in Lake Ontario. It needs to be kept natural.

HomeInMyShoes · #17 Posted **Aug 13, 2008, 2:23 PM**

Yes, nothing draws in the tourists like a good sign.

Interesting how many Canadian cities are fascinated by this entry sign thing. Edmonton also has an entry marker competition going on and it's generating a lot of flack for council as well.

Regina would not be my choice to follow for public art. Here' the entry sign
from guidewire on flickr

Anyone got a link to the Hamilton competition entries?

astroblaster · #18 Posted **Aug 13, 2008, 2:26 PM**

i think we do need to do something to improve the image of the city for people entering from, or passing by on the QEW. (Location 5 http://www.myhamilton.ca/NR/rdonlyre...3Locations.pdf)

we make a horrible first impression from that direction, especially for people who only pass through.

hopefully things will look better then the highway exits are complete, and that awesome bridge is built.

raisethehammer · #19 Posted **Aug 13, 2008, 2:28 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by HomeInMyShoes

Yes, nothing draws in the tourists like a good sign.

Interesting how many Canadian cities are fascinated by this entry sign thing. Edmonton also has an entry marker competition going on and it's generating a lot of flack for council as well.

Regina would not be my choice to follow for public art. Here' the entry sign
from guidewire on flickr

Anyone got a link to the Hamilton competition entries?

Haha...that's the best one in Canada???
Geez, what a waste of money.

I hope Edmonton really cranks up the cheese factor by putting up a sign that says 'City of Champions' on it. Lol.

raisethehammer · #20 Posted **Aug 13, 2008, 2:30 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by astroblaster

i think we do need to do something to improve the image of the city for people entering from, or passing by on the QEW. (Location 5 http://www.myhamilton.ca/NR/rdonlyre...3Locations.pdf)

we make a horrible first impression from that direction, especially for people who only pass through.

hopefully things will look better then the highway exits are complete, and that awesome bridge is built.

yea, what's up with that bridge?? is it being built??

it's supposed to be lit up at night too. Add in the 3 previous bridges I mentioned along with Bratina's idea for a huge water fountain lit up at night and that would do wonders to enhance the view and vibe heading into the city.
Not some sign stained with bird crap.