Signs of a Spruce-up Around Southern Pines
Southern Pines Mayor David McNeill beside one of the new street signs in the downtown historic district. Hannah Sharpe
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Southern Pines this week finished installing new street signs in its historic district, a project designed to reduce sign clutter and enhance the downtown ambience.
“The street signs in Southern Pines had been up for years and had become tired-looking,” Mayor David McNeill said. “It was time to have something fresh for the town, and the historic district was a great place to start.”
McNeill was one of seven members of a committee appointed in April 2011 by the Southern Pines Town Council to spearhead the $22,507 project. The others were Greg Zywocinski, Jeannie Carpentier, Lynn Anderson, Scott Bolton, Lee Riggsbee and Assistant Town Manager David White.
“The council tasked us with looking at street signage to see if we couldn’t upgrade it,” White said. “We also needed to adhere to new state and federal standards for street signs.”
U.S. Department of Transportation regulations now call for larger signs, larger letters and better reflective quality, among other things, while the N.C. Department of Transportation has new breakaway standards for the posts.
Riggsbee said the committee initially took a walking tour of the historic district.
“From my perspective, the most interesting thing was to see how many posts were actually in the ground at every intersection in downtown Southern Pines,” he said. “There were different sizes and different heights. Some were bent. Others were discolored or turned the wrong way.
“It’s something you wouldn’t think about when you’re downtown until you make that assessment.”
The committee then spent several months deciding on the style and color — brown, blue or green — for the new signs.
“We wanted the signs to have a distinctive look, something like the new lampposts we put in the historic district a few years ago,” White said. “One of the goals was to make the posts look similar.”
After choosing a brown background for the signs and finding the right posts, the committee decided to attach stop signs to as many of the new street signs as possible.
“We needed to consolidate the number of signs and clean up the clutter,” Riggsbee said. “Of course, some signs need to be stand-alone, such as a one-way street sign.”
In the end, there will be 18 poles with street signs and stop signs, and eight poles with just street signs.
Installation began last week, from Bennett Street to Ashe Street between Vermont Avenue and Massachusetts Avenue.
“We have received numerous complimentary calls and emails,” White said. “It all looks good.”
McNeill, who was a Town Council member throughout much of the process before being elected mayor last November, said he would like to see the project expanded in the future.
“I’d like to have more feedback from the town’s citizens before proceeding, but it’s all been positive so far. The town looks a whole lot better,” he said. “Our major corridors would be the most logical places to look once we have the funds to expand.”
Contact Ted M. Natt Jr. at (910) 693-2474 or tnatt@thepilot.com.
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Comments
JustThinking 11 months, 1 week ago
BEAUTIFUL! Now do something about the basketball courts! Now before something tragic happens in this lovely little town.
herecomesthescience 11 months, 1 week ago
(I hate to even ask this...) What exactly is wrong with the basketball courts? They are flat concrete with basketball goals in them, pretty simple.
cmccanless 11 months, 1 week ago
I think that our new street signs are so attractive. It is amazing what a difference the little things make.
FightFireWithFire 11 months, 1 week ago
Apparently JustNOTThinking does not read the paper regularly enough to know that the last murder that occurred in Southern Pines had absolutely nothing to do with the basketball courts, or anyone that uses them. the real tragedy in Southern Pines are all the people who run around judging others because they are different then they are.
Now if we can just get people in Southern Pines to ACTUALLY STOP at the new stop signs, progress will definitely be made.
JustThinking 11 months, 1 week ago
FFWF...what are YOU talking about?!?
PBinNC 11 months, 1 week ago
I don't know about the basketball courts, but I like the new signs. I first noticed a new sign traveleing along May Street, I think it was for Pennsylvania Avenue, but I thought it was green. The lettering was obviously larger than before. Even with the speed limit at 35 on May, there are a lot of street signs along there that need the enlarged printing, and maintenance people should drive along there with the specific purpose of seeing the signs. Some are hard to see because of tree limbs. Anyway, I feel this progress is money well spent, and no doubt can be attributed in large part to the OLD Appearance Commission.
DaveyNC 11 months, 1 week ago
Seriously, what is wrong with the basketball courts? We have a nation full of fat kids. You don't see too many fat ones at those courts. Ohhhh.....I know why you don't like them!
hippiern 11 months, 1 week ago
The problem at the basketballs courts is the amount of trash left on the sidewalk, ground and grass with several trash cans only a few feet away. Walk down the any sat or sun afternoon its aweful. The police should ticket a few of thse kids.
DaveyNC 11 months, 1 week ago
hippiern, JustThinking referred to something "tragic" that may one day happen. Litter is bad, for sure, but not tragic. Somehow, I don't think JT means litter.
Bflat 11 months, 1 week ago
The new signs are very nice and easier to read. It's a great improvement. I love that brown...and ironic that the brown UPS truck is in the pic. :)) Love that brown truck too.
JustThinking 11 months, 1 week ago
I mean.......all of the foot traffic back and forth from the courts to the cars parked on Broad Street! Most dangerous at night when alot of kids are hanging out!!! That is WHAT I'm talking about. I turn my bright lights on and have to dodge kids darting back and forth!! IT WILL BE A TAGEDY IF ONE OF THE KIDS GOT HIT BY A CAR BECAUSE THEY ARE N O T BEING MINDFUL OF CARS USING THE STREET!!! GOT IT !?! What's wrong with you people?
JustThinking 11 months, 1 week ago
DaveyNC......don't go "there" with me! You don't know who I am!! Stop! Just stop!
DaveyNC 11 months, 1 week ago
Jeez, JT, the potentially tragic situation that you describe can happen on literally any street anywhere in the world. Why single out the area around the courts?