WATCH ABOVE: Some businesses in Old Strathcona are being urged to put a better face forward when it comes to their signage. As Vinesh Pratap reports, many have been put up without the proper permit.
EDMONTON — Sign, sign, everywhere a sign — or so the song goes — and it appears some in one of Edmonton’s historic district aren’t quite up to snuff. A campaign has been launched to teach business owners about special sign guidelines in Old Strathcona.
The south Edmonton area is home to an eclectic mix of businesses: from decades-old independent clothing stores, knick-knack shops and local eateries to international coffee, frozen yogurt and ice cream shops and chain restaurants with their own bold, unmistakable branding.
The partnership between the Old Strathcona Business Association, the Old Strathcona Foundation and the City of Edmonton aims to communicate how business signs contribute to the heritage and character of the area. The goal is to educate business owners within the Old Strathcona Historical Commercial Direct Control area.
The Business Association and Foundation brought up the issue of compliance, and a City of Edmonton inventory of the area found that many of the signs in and around Whyte Avenue were installed without permits.
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“Old Strathcona falls within a Provincial Historical Area and is an attraction for many Edmontonians and visitors to our city every year,” says Stuart Kehrig, a senior planner with the City of Edmonton.
“The City identified this as an important initiative because we share the interests of the Old Strathcona businesses and residents in protecting this unique, vibrant and attractive area.”
The initiative will begin with a street team educating business owners about the special historical sign guidelines for the area, and providing information about the permit application process.
“The historic look and feel of the area is a big part of the ‘experience’ that is Old Strathcona, and we all need to continue to work together in support of not only maintaining that charm, but enhancing it as well,” says Murray Davison, Executive Director of the Old Strathcona Business Association.
The area is home to several events throughout the year, including the International Fringe Theatre Festival. It attracts tens of thousands of visitors from both the city and afar. Those involved in the initiative say it is important not only to build on the character of the area, but also to protect it in the face of growing pressure for new development.
READ MORE: Proposed 20-storey residential tower being met with opposition in Old Strathcona
“We see this as a great first step towards improving the look and feel of our streetscape to highlight the historic assets that make Old Strathcona a premier destination,” says Karen Tabor, Executive Director of the Old Strathcona Foundation.
More to come…
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