Times Square in Detroit? Proposal to allow large electronic billboards atop buildings

[jw101]

According to an article on Freep, there's a proposal from a Seattle-based advertising company to, basically, put a Times Square in Detroit. Shopping not included, but they are asking to install a number of LED billboards at an intersection downtown- allegedly in the arena district. First Times Square in NYC, then Yonge-Dundas Square in Toronto, then Tokyo, then Minneapolis. Is Detroit next?

[Bham1982]

I hear they're actually relocating Times Square, via airlift, to 7 Mile and Hayes. Supposedly Tokyo's Shibuya Crossing is going to the Westside, to 6 Mile & Livernois.

[Gistok]

Ugh..... when I looked at 42nd Street in NYC... I look at signage at its' worst....

https://www.google.com/search?q=42nd...h=923#imgdii=_

At one time you used to be able to stand at the corner of Woodward and Adams and while making a 360 degree turn around... you would be able to see all the theatre district marquees and blade signs lit up at night... the Adams, the Downtown RKO, the United Artists, the Michigan, the Tele-News, the Madison, the Broadway Capitol, the Wilson, the Fox and the Palms-State. It was a beautiful sight because they were all lit up with stud and neon lighting.

Unfortunately today signage isn't all that glamorous.. in fact some signs literally startle you... especially the large LED signs that go from a dark image to a sudden bright one [[we've all seen this).

I have serious mixed feelings about this... and for folks living in a downtown high rise... it might get downright annoying at night.

In the past America's cities had a lot of blade signage, and it was a way to make downtowns appear vibrant. And some places still allow mainly blade signs, but I worry about how Detroit would be able to control what goes up and what doesn't...

[Lowell]

And we have the big one coming for Cobo...

Cobo Jumbotron Nears Completion - It's Going To Be Huge And Flashy

[erikd]

Ugh..... when I looked at 42nd Street in NYC... I look at signage at its' worst....

https://www.google.com/search?q=42nd...h=923#imgdii=_

At one time you used to be able to stand at the corner of Woodward and Adams and while making a 360 degree turn around... you would be able to see all the theatre district marquees and blade signs... the Adams, the Downtown RKO, the United Artists, the Michigan, the Tele-News, the Madison, the Broadway Capitol, the Wilson, the Fox and the Palms-State. It was a beautiful sight because they were all lit up with stud and neon lighting.

Unfortunately today signage isn't all that glamorous.. in fact some signs literally startle you... especially the large LED signs that go from a dark image to a sudden bright one [[we've all seen this).

I have serious mixed feelings about this... and for folks living in a downtown high rise... it might get downright annoying at night.

In the past America's cities had a lot of blade signage, and it was a way to make downtowns appear vibrant. And some places still allow mainly blade signs, but I worry about how Detroit would be able to control what goes up and what doesn't...

I mostly agree with this assessment and opinion. I really like a lot of downtown marquees and signage, but I don't want the top 10 floors of the Fisher and Penobscot Buildings covered up with giant billboard screens.

As long as the new signage is tasteful and attractive, I don't have a problem with it. I think we should look to other cities that have a nice blend of vibrant, yet tasteful, signage, and see if their codes would be a good example for us to model.

[stasu1213]

I think Campus Martius would be perfect for the LED signage. Just image ice skating in The Rink surround by LED billboards. It will be like skating in the middle of Time Square NYC, Yonge Dundas Toronto. Leave the side streets such as Broadway, Monroe, Griswold, and Washington Blvd could remain without signage but have their own character

[preserve]

I love the idea of Detroit lit up, not necessarily like Time Square. I remember the theaters like Gistok described, and the top of the Penobscott bldg and the Fisher Bldg. I love that the bldgs are leaving lights on at night. For too long in the recent past, Detroit was too dark. I can even remember when the Ambassador Bridge lights were out. Love coming into the City from the western suburbs and seeing all the lights.

[ronaldj]

We ain't Hong Kong. Or the blithering idiots on the "Today" show.

[mtburb]

I love the idea of Detroit lit up, not necessarily like Time Square. I remember the theaters like Gistok described, and the top of the Penobscott bldg and the Fisher Bldg. I love that the bldgs are leaving lights on at night. For too long in the recent past, Detroit was too dark. I can even remember when the Ambassador Bridge lights were out. Love coming into the City from the western suburbs and seeing all the lights.

You know one thing I haven't done yet?

Drive on northbound I-75 over the Rouge Bridge at night.

[Gistok]

I think Campus Martius would be perfect for the LED signage. Just image ice skating in The Rink surround by LED billboards. It will be like skating in the middle of Time Square NYC, Yonge Dundas Toronto. Leave the side streets such as Broadway, Monroe, Griswold, and Washington Blvd could remain without signage but have their own character

I think you just described what a lot of people DON'T want to see... tall wide billboard type signage, that either covers up large parts of building facades, or sits on rooftops blocking the views of other buildings.

Perhaps tall and narrow [[blade signs) OR short and wide [[marquee signs) like the movie palaces had.... is the way to go for the best aesthetics for lighting up downtown.

This might be the best option...

[SyGolden48236]

Why must our visual senses be assaulted by obnoxiously bright flashing/moving advertising signage everywhere? It is bad enough the amount of billboards on the freeways not to mention the new video billboards.

Why cannot folks enjoy the architectural beauty of our classical old buildings without them being defaced with so many signs?

[Jimaz]

Physical signage will be replaced by augmented reality. It's only a matter of time.

[animatedmartian]

Why must our visual senses be assaulted by obnoxiously bright flashing/moving advertising signage everywhere? It is bad enough the amount of billboards on the freeways not to mention the new video billboards.

Why cannot folks enjoy the architectural beauty of our classical old buildings without them being defaced with so many signs?

That advertising money. $$$$ Someone is willing to pay good money to building owners just to get people's attention.

[expatriate]

As long as new signage doesn't cover the windows or ornamental facades I think it would be OK. Detroit has demolished so many buildings that many of the remaining ones have windowless, undecorated sides that once abutted other buildings. These would be perfect places to allow them. But of course like all things, the devil is in the details.

[WaCoTS]

i wish we would knock off this nonsense of trying to be like NYC, with new year's eve ball drops, and now times square billboards...we are not NY, and we shouldnt want to be.

remember when we tried to be like Vegas, and built a bunch of casinos? well, we still arent Vegas, and we won't ever be NYC. we will always be Detroit...and hopefully not wearing the masks of a bunch of other cities' cultures that we are trying to "be."

Detroit has never been about emulating. We are supposed to have our own original unique things. and yeah, maybe theyre not as flashy as Times Square or Vegas, but....isnt that the whole point?

[mtburb]

i wish we would knock off this nonsense of trying to be like NYC, with new year's eve ball drops, and now times square billboards...we are not NY, and we shouldnt want to be.

remember when we tried to be like Vegas, and built a bunch of casinos? well, we still arent Vegas, and we won't ever be NYC. we will always be Detroit...and hopefully not wearing the masks of a bunch of other cities' cultures that we are trying to "be."

Detroit has never been about emulating. We are supposed to have our own original unique things. and yeah, maybe theyre not as flashy as Times Square or Vegas, but....isnt that the whole point?

You should remember when Allen Park tried to be like Los Angeles.

The end result? A financial struggle that resulted in Joyce Parker.

[canuck]

Physical signage will be replaced by augmented reality. It's only a matter of time.

Izzaboud dime, I am ready do guid dringging then...