New big blue signs in SoWal

[Geo]

I'm still waiting to hear why we couldn't have just replaced any wood signs that were showing their age.

Based on the differing sign prices, we could have replaced each of the wood signs several times over.

I thought this same thing. It bothered me that there was so much focus put into having signs that could withstand 130MPH winds. Unless I heard wrong- the cost of each of the new signs came out to something like $5000 each...

So if we instead went with tasteful signs that were $500 each then even if 10 hurricanes came through and knocked 'em all down each time we'd still break even-

but with tasteful signs!!!!


The designs of the old signs were quaint and also provided the cohesiveness the TDC seeks. IMHO, we should have just recreated those with a slightly updated look and feel (perhaps make the Beaches of South Walton logo slightly more prominent to make the TDC happy) and with a high tech faux wood material to minimize maintenance...

GW

 

[scooterbug44]

As far as designing signs for "wind," if we have a storm that comes through with strong enough winds that a sign bolted to a 6x6 wood post gets yanked out of a concrete filled hole in the ground..................we'll have much bigger issues than signage!

 

[Geo]

I was at the meeting last week and there were two things that annoyed me that I want to get off my chest-

1) We were forced to fully hear out TDC members on this matter but they were over it when we wanted to be fully heard. They would say something to the effect of-

"Okay folks, we get it. We understand how you feel so for the sake of brevity we aren't going to let anyone else talk."

And then one or more of them would go on and on for several minutes. Then we would raise our hands to speak to refute something they'd just said and they would do the whole thing again...

The saving grace is that they agreed to have the workshop. And while I am cautiously optimistic at the potential outcome of the workshop-
part of me worries this was just a move to get them out of that moment. I personally feel that the workshop should include the TDC members or at minimum- someone representing them...

2) Not all of the TDC members have seen the signs in person. At the conclusion of the meeting one of the members remained and talked to a few of us. He was asked- "Mike, do you like the signs." He seemed to struggle for words (uh, um) and then said, "I haven't seen them". We stood there surprised and silent and then he said, "I own a business in Seaside but I haven't been over there"...

I was really burned up but I said nothing. You'd think after the newspaper articles (and cartoons), the countless e-mail messages (and letters), the meetings with folks like Ms. Bannerman that these TDC folks would actually go over and have a gander for themselves before they try to tell us why we don't have a legitimate beef...

My 4 year old could tell after seeing them in person that something is wrong!

One last thing. Just before I walked away from Mike he said something along the lines of, "If you want to change the signs, antee up..." He was suggesting that we pay for it. Without delay we all dug into our pockets and were pulling out cash and I said, "Mike, this isn't about money- we can get the cash." He said nothing and seemed to backpeddle...

Okay, I'm done. Forward thinking from here. I do not blame any individuals or the TDC for the Blue Monsters. I don't care how much or little they involved/informed us over the past serveral years. I don't care that they spent so much money...

I only care how they handle this matter from here...

 

[TooFarTampa]

Excellent posts, both of them Geo. THIS passage however needs to be duly noted:


Not all of the TDC members have seen the signs in person. At the conclusion of the meeting one of the members remained and talked to a few of us. He was asked- "Mike, do you like the signs." He seemed to struggle for words (uh, um) and then said, "I haven't seen them". We stood there surprised and silent and then he said, "I own a business in Seaside but I haven't been over there"...

 

[Mango]

I thought this same thing. It bothered me that there was so much focus put into having signs that could withstand 130MPH winds. Unless I heard wrong- the cost of each of the new signs came out to something like $5000 each...

So if we instead went with tasteful signs that were $500 each then even if 10 hurricanes came through and knocked 'em all down each time we'd still break even-

but with tasteful signs!!!!


The designs of the old signs were quaint and also provided the cohesiveness the TDC seeks. IMHO, we should have just recreated those with a slightly updated look and feel (perhaps make the Beaches of South Walton logo slightly more prominent to make the TDC happy) and with a high tech faux wood material to minimize maintenance...

GW

That was my thinking exactly. We visited after all the big hurricanes blew threw in 2004 and the Ed Walline sign was still standing, and the Blue Mountain sign as well. It seems they withstood the hurricane force winds.
I always liked the TDC logo with the umbrellas. I couldn't understand why these were not incorporated into any signage for cohesiveness.

I often thought about calling to ask if there any plans to refresh the Ed Walline sign. I wonder if they would have told me about the new signage in the works?

As far as new wood signs, the cost would be greater than $500. We purchased a small sign for our development and it was no great shakes, and it was $900 alone using a local vendor. I was shocked at the cost.
Later after looking at fencing, we found this high tech polyresin that looks like wood that is used for coastal areas, and they did have sign posts that could be purchased. Not sure why something like this wasn't investigated in lieu of signs that look like they belong on a freeway.

I'm shocked that some TDC members have not actually seen the signs. :shock:

 

[Smiling JOe]

These two blue signs really stand out from the Lake.

Similar designed signs at the SoWalCo Annex buildings. Badly fading and rusting from the iron in the well water sprinkler system. At least the brown color and green post blend in a little better than the grabber blue.

 

[scooterbug44]

Didn't Dave say the wood signs originally cost $100 a pop?

I thought the old signs were boards/plywood bolted to a wood post - even w/ slightly better materials and increased lumber costs that design wouldn't be $5K apiece.

Have the TDC members never seen the design or just not seen the eyesores in place?

 

[Dave Rauschkolb]

Didn't Dave say the wood signs originally cost $100 a pop?

I thought the old signs were boards/plywood bolted to a wood post - even w/ slightly better materials and increased lumber costs that design wouldn't be $5K apiece.

Have the TDC members never seen the design or just not seen the eyesores in place?

No, that is what Sean Boon said, I said. What I said was the design cost around $100.00; about 15 minutes of time with a graphic designer. The actual signs cost $200 or $300 each. They were made of sandblasted redwood. The tdc used the same material on all the beach walkover entrances; they looked great! It's a shame what they spent. I assure you, when we replace them they will cost a fraction of what was spent.

 

[Dave Rauschkolb]

I was at the meeting last week and there were two things that annoyed me that I want to get off my chest-

1) We were forced to fully hear out TDC members on this matter but they were over it when we wanted to be fully heard. They would say something to the effect of-

"Okay folks, we get it. We understand how you feel so for the sake of brevity we aren't going to let anyone else talk."

And then one or more of them would go on and on for several minutes. Then we would raise our hands to speak to refute something they'd just said and they would do the whole thing again...

The saving grace is that they agreed to have the workshop. And while I am cautiously optimistic at the potential outcome of the workshop-
part of me worries this was just a move to get them out of that moment. I personally feel that the workshop should include the TDC members or at minimum- someone representing them...

2) Not all of the TDC members have seen the signs in person. At the conclusion of the meeting one of the members remained and talked to a few of us. He was asked- "Mike, do you like the signs." He seemed to struggle for words (uh, um) and then said, "I haven't seen them". We stood there surprised and silent and then he said, "I own a business in Seaside but I haven't been over there"...

I was really burned up but I said nothing. You'd think after the newspaper articles (and cartoons), the countless e-mail messages (and letters), the meetings with folks like Ms. Bannerman that these TDC folks would actually go over and have a gander for themselves before they try to tell us why we don't have a legitimate beef...

My 4 year old could tell after seeing them in person that something is wrong!

One last thing. Just before I walked away from Mike he said something along the lines of, "If you want to change the signs, antee up..." He was suggesting that we pay for it. Without delay we all dug into our pockets and were pulling out cash and I said, "Mike, this isn't about money- we can get the cash." He said nothing and seemed to backpeddle...

Okay, I'm done. Forward thinking from here. I do not blame any individuals or the TDC for the Blue Monsters. I don't care how much or little they involved/informed us over the past serveral years. I don't care that they spent so much money...

I only care how they handle this matter from here...

I Posted this on the Walton Sun website comments section in response to the Article; I felt our postition was not clearly represented in the Walton Sun article.

I offered the TDC one thousand dollars of my own money as a token of cooperation and seed funding to replace the signs. They returned my check as they have no vehicle for accepting money not in the form of bed taxes at this time. To attempt to dress up the signs with flowers or lower them just defends our argument. They simply don't fit on Scenic 30-A. To Quote Ed Walborsky in the TDC meeting. "You can put a bonnet on a pig but it is still a pig." The citizens of Scenic 30-A are passionate about protecting the character and beauty of this beautiful road. We will settle with nothing less than an awesome representation of that character. The TDC deserves good credit for just about every other aspect of branding our beautiful area. They do a fantastic job of promoting the area. Hopefully this one mistake can be repaired by working closely with Clair Bannerman and other creative people to design signs that reflect the best of what Scenic 30-A can be and is.

 

[TooFarTampa]

Dave, do you think it is time this thread shifted in tone to the offering of solutions? Maybe some ideas that could be brought into committee?

Even if the cost of the new signs are $1,000 apiece, or maybe even a bit more, I'm sure that the community would be willing to pony up half the cost, with the other half to be matched by the TDC.

I feel confident that one or more of our talented SoWal artists would be willing to donate some environmentally appropriate design ideas. Maybe something that would be in tune with the new scenic highway signs, which someone upthread said are very nice?

Maybe someone who knows more about materials can chime in with ideas -- should the signs be natural or synthetic (like Trex, etc.).