Allentown - Coming and Going
Last week I posted on potential future waymarking efforts leading from the Peace Bridge to major Buffalo destinations. It seams that the Allentown Society was already one step ahead of me. Yesterday marked the unveiling of the district's third "Welcome to Allentown" sign. After spotting the sign, I called up Andrew Eisenhardt, Director of the Allentown Association, who told me that getting the sign was a hard fought battle. And only when the sigh arrived did he and others realize that both sides welcomed visitors to the community - a problem that will soon be remedied. From Andrew:
"The sign makers did screw up - it is supposed to say "Thanks for Visiting" on the other side. Despite the mistake, we now have three signs marking the boundaries of Allentown. East and west are clearly marked so that visitors know that they have entered Historic Allentown. And even though we would eventually like to mark the north and south boundaries, I don't think that we'll ever get another sign past the Preservation Board. We wanted to put this one (photo) in front of First Presbyterian Church. But even this sign was a compromise. The board didn't want the sign in sightlines of Kleinhans Music Hall. Eventually I would have liked to see one at Elmwood Park (corner of Elmwood and Virginia), but once again that is up to the Preservation Board. This one sign was two-years in the making. The sign at Allen and Main was put in nine years ago. Fortunately, this new sign was completed and installed just in time for Secrets of Allentown (tomorrow). Credit for the sign should really go to a member of the Allentown Association by the name of Daniel Culross... he did 80% of the work. And the sign was fully paid for by a City of Buffalo Livable Communities grant."
What Others Have To Say
What Do You Think?
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Comment Options
HudsonHarmony
The Preservation Board is outrageous! They gave this neigbhorhood a hassle for soemthing that was positive. I wish they spent as much time and energy going after slum lords who take money out of the neigborhood.
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sbrof
so true.. those doing good things gets hassled.. those hurting the area get a free ride..
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MikeS
I agree, the preservation board is outrageous.
I'm don't want to be one of the negative norts that post here, but it's kind a huge F-up that the sign says WELCOME on both sides! I know exactly where this sign is. So if an out of towner is driving down porter (towards the water), you would look at that sign and think you're entering Allentown. Damn, can't we do anything right? At minimum, I'd cover the back side of the sign with the same kind of wood in that green color. Even better would be create the same kind of work on another board and epoxy it to it.
BTW: Where is the third sign that Andrew talks about? We have this one at Porter, one on Allen at Main and one PLANNED at Elmwood and North. Where is the third sign that is in place?
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Joshua
The Preservation Board is outrageous and 75% of the time useless and incompetent.
If the sign says Welcome on both sides and this was wrong, I would return the sign and get it fixed for free.
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Antiques_Allentown
The sign company has assured us that the wrong side will be fixed in the next 2 weeks. The "welcome to" will be covered over with "Thank You For Visiting." The other sign is installed at Hudson @ Plymouth and has been there for 2 years.
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Joshua
Antiques_Allentown -- Thank you for the update!
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Harvey
I'm on the preservation board and it was a tough call on the sign. The opposition wasn't anti-Allentown improvements, it was concern over a very serious problem with out of control sign-age all across the City - especially in our historic neighborhoods. You wouldn't believe the number of big ugly sign requests (including 6x8 foot LED billboards on front lawns) that come in front of the board regularly. We stop more of these than you will ever know or appreciate.
I supported the Allentown sign because I think it serves the goals of preservation by promoting the value of historic buildings and pride in neighborhood preservation. I personally don't think the sign looks too bad either - but that's more of an esthetic question than preservation standard. As noted in the post there was an issue with placement - it was a question of whether the sign should obscure First Pres or Kleinhans in photos - since we regularly have tourists (and locals) taking photos of these important buildings this was a pretty legitimate concern.
It's a tough position to be on the Preservation Board. Everyone wants you to save buildings that can't always be saved (with no resources), to stay out of the way of critical development (while preserving important structures), to go after owners after they've already damaged their buildings (which we have no authority to do), to allow their changes but not allow their neighbors to violate the preservation standards, etc. - and there is no possible way to make everyone happy. And it's an all volunteer board that spends a great deal of time trying to protect our historic assets while promoting investment that encourages further positive investment.
Everyone has an opinion and it's easier to criticize than do. I know because in addition to being on the Preservation Board I'm out in the neighborhood every day saving buildings and attracting sustainable private investment.
I'm not sure about useless and incompetent - maybe, but it would probably help if you knew more about what the board does before making any final conclusions. :)
Harvey
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comptart_lws
hmmmmmmmmmm… maybe the other side could say "Welcome to Fargo Estate Neighborhood" or "Lake Erie Vista and Olmsted's Front Park Ahead". The west side is densely packed with adjacent treasures — leaving one, you enter another, especially along Olmsted Parkways. This sign is considerably better looking than the crap the Dept Pub Works has all over the place.
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Joshua
Harvey - I would love to know more about what the board does, personally. PM me if you are interesting in meeting. And don't take it personally, I know that you are involved with a lot in the City besides the Preservation Board. I enjoy also volunteering with some big name projects.
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pegger
It was an honest mistake. Give these people a break for Pete's sake! Their duties are varied are highly diversified and their accomplishments stellar. But, they can't do everything. Seems to me that some people just have axes to grind!
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heathersmiles
Comptart - That is a great idea!! Way to see the big picture on this.
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djcoolhaus
The sign has been fixed this morning to read "Thank You for Visiting" Allentown on the west bound side, at no cost to the Allentown Association.
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