Raleigh Historic Districts Commission

Raleigh

Historic Districts Street-Sign Topper Proposal

RHDC Street Sign Topper Proposal

The Raleigh Historic Districts Commission (RHDC) proposes a sign topper program for street signs in the city’s local historic districts. The goal of the program is to raise public awareness of the presence and location of local historic districts within the city. The RHDC has undertaken this project to commemorate its 40^th anniversary.

Proposed Sign

The proposed sign is a 6 ¾”-high by 10 ¼”-wide oval 063 gauge aluminum-steel flat blank with a screenprinted image on white reflective sheeting. Text screenprinted in RHDC corporate fonts and color blue will include the name of the district in 1.2” letters and the words “Raleigh Historic District” in .5” letters.

Proposed Placement

The RHDC proposes installation of the historic district oval sign toppers in conjunction with existing city street signs at all intersections within the five local historic districts. There are three street-sign configurations in the districts:

§ paired, double-sided blades of the same size on square tubular post with pyramidal cap; blades are either 6-3/4” (for regular streets) or 9” high (for collector streets);

§ one 6-3/4”-high double-sided blade and one 9”-high double-sided blade on square tubular post with pyramidal cap; and

§ one 9”-high single-sided blade fixed to traffic signal post with brackets and bands.

For the first two configurations, the oval toppers will be double-sided and will be mounted in a slide-in bracket on a cap that replaces the existing pyramidal cap on the square tubular posts. For the third configuration, single-sided signs will be attached to posts with buckle brackets and bands. The city posts one-way arrows on traffic signal posts at downtown intersections in this manner.

Proposed Program Initiation and Maintenance

The RHDC proposes that the City of Raleigh manufacture, install, and maintain the Raleigh historic district signs as part of its street signage program. The RHDC will donate to the city the first supply of sign materials for the five districts. That supply will consist of sufficient materials to produce signs for the approximately 110 intersections within the five local historic districts. The anticipated cost is approximately $3000.

Commission staff has worked with staff in the sign shop to ensure that the proposed signage program is compatible with the existing street-sign program and with the current manufacturing capabilities of the city’s sign shop.

Attachments

Raleigh Historic Districts maps (showing boundaries)

Mock-up of proposed sign design

Illustrations of proposed installation configurations

Blount Street Historic District

Boylan Heights Historic District

Capitol Square Historic District

Moore Square Historic District

Oakwood Historic District