Comments on: Ann Arbor, Give Me a Sign

By: vicki honeyman

vicki honeyman — Thu, 29 Apr 2010 19:01:23 +0000

THANK YOU to all of you who have written comments in support of small businesses and disappointed with the city over the sign ordinance. PLEASE write the mayor and every council member before Monday, May 3rd’s council meeting at which the vote will take place regarding the ordinance. A demand should be made to overhaul the ordinance…or get rid of it…and make it friendly to local business owners. Consider attending the meeting to speak out, but PLEASE WRITE!!! Council doesn’t have a clue how the community feels about this issue.
Thank you!!
Vicki Honeyman

By: Jeff Herron

Jeff Herron — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 17:57:03 +0000

I have no problem with sidewalk signs, or sidewalk seating, or Girl Scouts selling cookies on Main street. However, sidewalk congestion is a pain, a problem for people with disabilities, and once sandwich boards are permitted we’ll likely see more of them.

As we embrace our “coolness” and our local businesses perhaps we should consider whether we’re asking too much of our sidewalks.

If city leaders view sidewalk clutter as an important issue, perhaps enforcement could start with unpermitted and unused sidewalk news boxes. It’s not clear to me what gives a publisher the right to cease publication and leave their plastic boxes all over our sidewalks. (Full disclosure – I publish a free magazine. We don’t currently use street boxes).

By: Ellen Weatherbee

Ellen Weatherbee — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 20:35:41 +0000

I strongly think that Heavenly Metal (and other stores) should be able to keep their sidewalk signs. I walk with a service dog, and we have no problem with her sign. It is the best way for new customers to find Heavenly Metal and for returning customers to know she’s open. It adds a lively, European touch to our wonderful town.

By: Clara

Clara — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 17:30:29 +0000

I agree with Julie! I like sidewalk signs!! They do make me Happy!! I find out what is going on in the stores and discover the stores upstairs that don’t have a store front! One of my favorites is the Ann Arbor Hair Studio’s sign on Washington and 4th!
Let’s support the small businesses downtown, let’s discover new and enterprising ways to bring them more business… not charge them money for solving a visibility challenge.

By: Cindy Overmyer

Cindy Overmyer — Sat, 24 Apr 2010 22:17:54 +0000

It’s hard to figure why a small sidewalk sign can be any more difficult for pedestrians, disabled or not, to negotiate than all the narrow and constricted passageways on the walkways due to the outdoor cafe/restaurant seating in the warmer months. Getting around on Main Street on a warm summer’s evening can be a challenge, weaving in and out of walking spaces between restaurants. Yet no one is saying “Get rid of all the outdoor dining…” These signs advertise all the art, unusual gifts and unique establishments that we treasure here, and add so much fun and visual interest to the streets all year round! Can’t some kind of compromise be reached?

By: Julie

Julie — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 16:54:25 +0000

I LIKE sidewalk signs. They make me happy. They make streets look vibrant and friendly and interesting. Can we please just get rid of whatever bureaucratic nonsense that is interfering with them?

By: Lisa Dengiz

Lisa Dengiz — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 16:35:13 +0000

These are two fantastic, independent and terrific businesses that are chock full of unique treasures.

Vicki and Jeff deserve better treatment and instead we own them a big thanks for helping to making the Fourth Ave/ Kerrytown area such a great destination to meet fun, knowledgeable local owners.

By: Pete

Pete — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 15:57:27 +0000

In consideration of the parking fiasco currently taking place, it looks like a much better deal to get an annual permit for sidewalk usage to park my car on. I’m pro-local business, but that is a ridiculously low price for such a valuable resource…

By: Joan Kauffman

Joan Kauffman — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 14:59:53 +0000

Businesses like Vicky Honeyman’s and Jeff Pickell’s provide products that aren’t offered in other communities. This consistently has drawn people to Ann Arbor. We should do everything we can for businesses like these, that is some ways define exactly what makes Ann Arbor an attractive and vital community.

By: Suswhit

Suswhit — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 11:05:50 +0000

Honeyman is absolutely right. The City does need her. It’s businesses like hers (and her well designed sign) that contribute to Ann Arbor’s much lauded “cool factor.” In fact I’d go so far as to say that her little sign brings more “cool” to Ann Arbor than that proposed urinal next to Huron. How ’bout we give her a million dollars and call her sign public art? Seriously. Why on earth are we attacking local businesses when they need our help most???????