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| 7030 N. Clark, Detail from A&T Diner Sign |
I've been doing some drawings of building details in the neighborhood, so I thought I would take another look at my favorite sign on Greenleaf and Clark. I've been worried about the condition of this sign since I moved to the neighborhood more than 15 years ago. Some of the bulbs still light, but the neon looks to be damaged beyond repair. I really hope this will be fixed, but it's more likely to disappear along with so many others of the period.
I'm trying to visualize the cost of repair, which would include a crane for removal and reinstallation, replacing rusted sheet metal, replicating the neon, rewiring and refinishing. Not cheap. Probably above $50,000. On top of that there's a good possibility it doesn't meet current sign code.
These signs were really scaled to auto traffic more than the neighborhood pedestrian. Which is odd, since Clark was (and is) better suited for walking. And just attaching this massive sign to the delicate 1913 brick and terracotta building must have been an amazing effort.
I've drawn this building and sign a lot. Here are few I've posted previously, from large to small:
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| Southwest Corner of Clark and Greenleaf. Grey tone added with marker. |
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| A&T Sign. Colored pencil over a xerox with a digital gradient background. |
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| Detail in colored pencil. |
A&T used to be across the street in a much smaller store, which is now a Mexican restaurant.
ReplyDeleteNotice the star on the sign, I believe that's because the sign was actually for the previous restaurant which was called the Star's Inn.
Thanks Clark St!
ReplyDelete