By JAMES KRAUSE, Gazette contributor
In reference to the old gas station sign located at the Five Points intersection:
Firstly, let me say that I love the idea as well as the submitted artwork. I can honestly say that as silly as it is, yes that sign is a landmark to the city as much as the mills are, in my opinion.
I have just one thought/concern. I know that it is being regarded as a project welcoming people to the city, but where that sign is, aren’t they theoretically already pretty far into the city?
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Also, in reality, I am thinking that traffic driving by will be moving too fast to really appreciate the details in the new design. Add to that all of the existing wires and other infrastructure, I feel that maybe the sign will be shorted its due deserve.
Lastly, and this is kind of stupid but valid in this day and age. Suppose a truck tries to make that turn and screws the pooch, or an accident pushes a car into the pole. Who is footing the bill for the repairs? Would it be the city of the property owner?
I know that is hopefully a far-out idea, but you KNOW that sooner or later it will happen. And when it does, you know the lawyers and insurance companies will be fighting that one for years.
But as they say, don’t bring up a problem unless you can offer a solution, so here is my thought:
- Take the whole sign, shorten the pole and move it to the corner down by Main Street and Mechanics Park (picture attached).
- Rotate the sign so that the “blocks” are off to the left side, sort of facing traffic in both directions.
- Following the design submitted by the artist, use one side coming into Biddeford to show 04005, and the side leaving Biddeford to show 04072. (When the sign is refurbished, place a blank in the center of the blocks so that the opposite sides don’t show through on each other.)
- Instead of standard white lighting inside, line the internals with basic color changing LEDs so that during holidays and events, the sign can display in colors. (Example: red/green for Christmas, orange/purple for Halloween, red/white/blue for patriotic holidays, etc.
- If you want to get really fancy, landscape a circular sitting area around the base with some benches and a plaque of some sort talking about the sign.
Lastly, thinking for the future, be sure to run extra electricity inside the pole and think about possibly adding (in the future) a permanent informational display board below the “blocks” more in the driver’s eyeline since so often we end up just placing a temporary sign on that patch of land anyway for parades, festivals, parking bans, etc.
Possibly Saco would throw some money at the project since it will display their zip as well and the informational sign in the future would be used to benefit both cities.
Oh, and my thoughts on painting the pole: some shade of standard Hunter Green or something to fit in with the park and local landscaping there.
I would also do what I can to aid in the project. I am sure the money set aside would fall short but I know we can find it somewhere.
The maintenance time saved over the years would be substantial I bet because you could use our own trucks and lifts to access the sign if it were shortened, as compared to needing a crane to access the top of the sign where it currently is.
I really feel that this is a great alternative to the current placement of the sign to pair with the sign’s new use: a great welcoming to the city — both cities, really.
Can you think of a better way to say “Welcome to our Main Street District”?
NOTE: James Krause is a resident of Biddeford. If you would like to submit a column or letter to the editor for publication in the Biddeford Gazette, please email biddefordgazette@gmail.com
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