Creating Places: A Citizen Observer's Look at Nashville's Built Environment


Writer's Note: William Williams' interest in the manmade environment dates to 1970, at which point the then-young Williams started a collection of postcards of city skylines. The collection now numbers 1,000-plus cards. Among the writer's specific interests are exterior building design, city district planning, demographics, signage, mixed-use development, mass transit and green/sustainable construction and living. Williams began his Creating Places column with The City Paper in February 2005. The column in its original form was discontinued in September 2008 and reinvented via this blog in November 2008. Creating Places can be found on the home page of the website of The City Paper, at which Williams has worked in various capacities since October 2000.

Sunday, June 16, 2013

Creating Places: Street banner observation

Only a few weeks after the Avenue of the Arts streetscape improvement project was concluded on the segment of Fifth Avenue North between Church and Union streets, one of the original seven light pole banners has been removed. And at least two others are frayed at their lower segments (see an example with the lower right corner of the banner pictured below). Why? Because apparently Metro simply doesn't get it. You cannot affix street light polls with banners using a cross bar on the top only and a loop on the bottom. If you do, when strong winds hit, the banners get ripped from the flimsy bottom attachment. I continue to be baffled that the city doesn't understand this. The approach is simple: If for whatever reason Metro chooses to not use street poles with two cross bars, then no banners should be included. Either attached the banners properly or don't attach them at all.


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11 comments:

  1. AnonymousJune 17, 2013 at 8:15 AM

    Good observation! It's amazing that the people in Metro Public Works don't seem to get this when it's just so simple and obvious.

    I hope you will be able publish this in the City Paper.

    ReplyDelete
  2. AnonymousJune 17, 2013 at 10:03 AM

    What about the Mexican restaurant Christmas lights that look horrible?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. William WilliamsJune 17, 2013 at 4:17 PM

      I have no idea about the lights. I saw them at dark once and they looked fine. In the daytime, I'm not a fan.

      Delete
  3. AnonymousJune 18, 2013 at 11:50 AM

    If they secured the bottom, the wind catching sail would topple the poles over.....the portion of the banners swinging horizontally allows people directly below to better view a portion....it's more kinetic art...

    Then, there's the irritating graphic design that just reminds me of a local television station logo with red/white number and no other text on the main logo to separate the identity of the street name or art, but maybe that's supposed to be covered well enough in the smaller, wrinkled part....

    Poor design/execution, indeed.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. William WilliamsJune 19, 2013 at 10:11 PM

      AMous,

      There is a pole security consideration with strong winds, but there are banners that have slits that allow the wind to "pass through," thus minimizing stress on the poles.

      WW

      Delete
    2. AnonymousJune 20, 2013 at 12:11 PM

      Comment was purely sarcastic

      Delete
    3. William WilliamsJune 23, 2013 at 11:54 AM

      AMous,

      Actually, I've been told pole to have maximum wind considerations with banners as part of the equation, but that does seem odd.

      WW

      Delete
  4. AnonymousJune 20, 2013 at 7:47 AM

    WW - Just so you know.....You have a couple of unanswered questions on the Tidbits post of your blog.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Tyler BellAugust 19, 2013 at 10:44 AM

    2nd paragraph hit the nail on the head. Light pole banners MUST be affixed using two arms, one at top and one at the bottom. This installation method will ensure the longevity of banners and save $$$

    ReplyDelete
  6. Steeve FrankOctober 8, 2013 at 1:44 AM

    Amazing, really made my day! More power to your blog.
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    ReplyDelete

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