Archways bearing the city’s name could one day span downtown
streets, but first the Morgan Hill Redevelopment Agency will spend
up to $25,000 on another phase of design work for the project.
Morgan Hill – Archways bearing the city’s name could one day span downtown streets, but first the Morgan Hill Redevelopment Agency will spend up to $25,000 on another phase of design work for the project.
The Morgan Hill City Council, acting as the agency’s directors, voted 5-0 Wednesday night to approve preliminary designs for “downtown entry features” that resemble street-spanning signs in other cities and amusement parks.
The archways are a “formal ornate-style,” according to the city, but the final design, color and shapes are yet to be selected.
The street-spanning arches are proposed at Monterey Road and Dunne Avenue, Monterey Road and Main Avenue and Third and Depot streets.
“It gives a sense of place and a sense of identity,” said Garrett Toy, director of Business Assistance and Housing Services, explaining why cities such as Santa Cruz and Redwood City decided to invest thousands of dollars in colorful signs to denote their downtowns. “It’s to let people know where they are.”
But a number of Santa Cruz residents experienced buyer’s remorse after the city installed a large blue-and-yellow sign in recent years to draw more tourists downtown. Many people complained about its striking appearance.
“That was more of a design issue,” Toy said. “And we got input from the public on the proposed designs.”
Members of an hod-hoc citizens’ committee met three times this year to agree upon design concepts.
The group also mulled over designs for directional signs that would point drivers, bicyclists and pedestrians toward the city’s wineries, downtown shops, civic center and parks.
“As far as I’m concerned, I think an archway would be a good addition to downtown,” said Gayle Richter, a longtime downtown resident and a member of the committee. “It certainly would designate downtown.”
Local developer Rocke Garcia, also a member of the committee, agreed the street-spanning signs would make downtown stand out.
“It would give downtown an identity,” Garcia said, adding compromising on a design might take some work.
The sign program for downtown also includes matching directional signs for the medians, business directory signs and parking lot signs.
Toy said the next phase of design work would include deriving the cost of the signs. The Redevelopment Agency will contract with San Diego-based Graphic Solutions for the project.
After the council considers the final design proposals this fall, the city could start construction this winter, Toy said.
