De-Uglification—It's Happening!
The town is getting more beautiful! Thanks to actions by the Board of Selectmen and our Building Inspector many of the signs which have blighted our byways are disappearing. This has been an issue stuck in my craw for some time. See: http://northborough.patch.com/blog_posts/ugliness-update
So I am particularly happy to see progress. There are still errant signs here and there -- the 'buy gold' ones being particulary offensive. When they're gone I'll know the battle is won. Main progress has been by what I call 'Rocky's Plaza' and by Soverign Bank.
What can you do to help this process move along? And keep us from backsliding. For one thing you can call town hall and leave a message for our administrator or building inspector about signs you find offensive. Or post photos on the Patch. In addition to an occasional post on the Patch, my approach is to do regular updates and fire photos off to the Selectmen, BI and TA. We have to be vigalent and keep pressure on.
Another good thing to do is patronize shops in the Rocky Plaza and let owners know how much better it looks now.
Here are just a few pics taken yesterday and today, as well as a couple of reminders of how bad things were.
I now there are die hard capitalists out there who think this is all anti-business, but rules are rules. And sometimes beauty trumps the almighty dollar.
Gary Kelley
6:10 pm on Wednesday, July 11, 2012
Capitalism doesn't have to be tawdry. Great post, Ron.
Ron Goodenow
6:22 pm on Wednesday, July 11, 2012
Thanks Gary. I remember that wonderful Pete Seeger song 'The Banks Are Made of Marble' (Pete doesn't like bankers very much) but when Lewis Sullivan, a student of Frank Lloyd Wright, got his hands on the good stone and designed them they were off the planet beautiful. Frankly, I think that made for better bankers, too!
The Troll of Northborough
9:25 am on Thursday, July 12, 2012
Least we not forget yet even more signage that needs to go,
Just past the town garage on RT20 east bound, Signs in the woods, who’s crawling in to remove them? Just past St Bernadette’s that little convenience store, He’s got UGLY signs still outside, looks as of this morning 7-12-2012 he has Side walk sign – RT 20, ATM/BEER signs on the directory sign and on a light pole by the traffic lights, as well a huge ugly sidewalk type sign in the back on the Bartlett St side, Are they under special permit? Or are they just challenging the rules?
Now that we’re at Bartlett St, what about all that UGLY extra signage at Moe’s auto?
He has those huge Inspection signs on RT20 and on Bartlett St. As well a sandwich board type one across the street from his garage
Ron keep up the crusade its working, grab that camera of yours and get up some new pics on those that refuse to comply.
The Troll of Northborough
12:58 pm on Friday, July 13, 2012
7-13-2012
No change, still up. wanna bet that otehr start putting theirs back out now?
The Troll of Northborough
9:27 am on Thursday, July 12, 2012
And even more signs in neighborhoods that shouldn’t be, How about the huge computer sign on pleasant street? (Evans?) I didn’t know residential neighborhoods can have commercial signs not to mention the UGLY sidewalk sign he puts out now and then on the side of the road.
When you’re out and about, don’t forget to snap a pic of that Tilz billboard on the Rt20 SW cutoff, can’t miss it, it would be that four foot high by four foot wide billboard sign on the lawn of a house zoned residential – intersection of Davis St + RT20
I dont have pics of those yet, but I'll be sure to take some soon if Ron doesnt.
The Troll of Northborough
12:59 pm on Friday, July 13, 2012
7-13-2012 yep these are still out too.
Dr. Brian Russell DM
9:45 am on Thursday, July 12, 2012
This isn’t a witch hunt Main St, I was effected by the enforcement
I took down my moved banner from where I used to have my store, as well removed my “professionally printed” sign that I would bring in every night, Now that’s a door stop for me. I have no issues complying with the rules, I just think they need to be fair no matter what size the business is, Now with a huge shopping plaza in town and a huge mall just down the street, the small business that operate in town are faced with even more challenges, Signs that let you know they are there, bring attention to them are the most cost efficient way to do it, to just call everything ugly isn’t a fix, and to be war driving to point out noncompliance is just asinine