Philadelphia Will Do

July 24, 2008

The Unisys Sign Dilemma

A hearing about the proposed Unisys sign on Liberty Two last night was so full of Philadelphians acting like the world would end if the sign was/was not put up it isn't even over yet. The Zoning Board held a two-hour hearing and then called it quits, for now.

Unisys has essentially said the company will not move downtown without a sign, for some reason, and some historian even testified in favor of it.

The head of SCRUB also chimed in: "Do we prostitute our visual space in order to lure them here?" The residents of the new condos at Liberty Two have filed a federal lawsuit against Unisys in an attempt to block the sign. All of this should be settled in time for the tricentennial.

June 6: Unisys Wants Sign On Liberty Two

Posted by D-Mac at 11:39 AM | Comments (6)

June 06, 2008

Unisys Wants Sign On Liberty Two

Daniel Rubin writes in his Inquirer column today about new Liberty Two tenant Unisys' plans for signs 2/3rd of the way up the building. He even talks to Mr. Beautyman for his opinion on the signs. (Surprise: The tenants don't like them.)

And he also gets someone to say that the Unisys signs could be a target for terrorists!

Charles Mouzannar, an engineer who bought a home on the 43d floor, argues that the signs would paint a bull's-eye on the sapphire blue-and-silver glass building.

Unisys, he writes, provides IT services to the military. "A prominent Unisys sign could potentially entice terrorists to target this building, believing that this is the Unisys headquarters or a structure solely occupied by the corporation."

Are we to assume terrorists do no research before they commit an attack? They have the Internet, they can probably look up the tenants of a building in the planning stages.

Liberty Place residents fight Unisys plan [Inquirer]
Original photo by Brad Maule

Posted by D-Mac at 10:16 AM | Comments (4)

November 10, 2006

CSX Predicts Death For Non-Movers

While some of you were getting your vote on Tuesday, CSX was busy erecting the sign at right. (The photo is from Inga Saffron's Skyline Online blog and presumably taken by her.)

CSX, as you may know, has the tracks inbetween Center City and Schuylkill River Park, the trail along the river's eastern banks. While there are entrances at Chestnut and Walnut Streets, CSX's trains block several entranceways, like the one this sign is guarding.

Two years ago, CSX sued to city to close the two crossings near its tracks at Locust and Race. But now, the company has reversed course and put up these fancy-dancy signs. CSX also gave out t-shirts!

This is, of course, all good. But, oh my God, what is with that font? And the slogan reminds me of the AC Expressway signs: "Stay Awake, Stay Alert, Stay Alive." CSX's helpful message: Run across the tracks and you'll die.

Well, you have to start somewhere.

Watch Out For Moving Signs [Skyline Online]
Reaching the Hidden River [Free The River Park]

Posted by D-Mac at 02:38 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack (0)