fancy new electric colour changing "Lakeshore Village" signs through the 'hood?

I just noticed that main "Lakeshore Village" sign on the south side of Lakeshore at Islington was changing colour tonight when I sat facing southbound on Islington waiting to make the left to go west on lakeshore...

I thought something was wrong with my headlights... the effect is pretty weird.

It looks like the changing colour L.E.D. retrofit; like what they did to the CN Tower.

... Then I noticed all the little signs with the "Lakeshore Village Logo" on the light posts along both sides of Lakeshore were also doing it - when did that happen?

Anyway, 3 main questions:

- What was the process to come up with that decision?

- How much did it cost?

- If it is supposed to help improve the 'hood, couldn't we have put that money somewhere more useful?

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Permalink Reply by wendy gamble on July 26, 2010 at 8:48am

The BIA is probably paying for it as Lakeshore Village is their shopping district. Everything else is, of course, New Toronto.

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Permalink Reply by zukeeper on July 26, 2010 at 12:18pm

I don't know the answer to the first two questions, but I would venture a big YES to the third.
I think it looks cheap and cheesy. I do understand there's some energy savings to switching to LED, but the execution here is really poor in my opinion. Ditto the Star Wars-esque blue light saber lights on Lakeshore further west in Mimico!
Surely a more stylish, classy design can be implemented to improve the streetscape?

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Permalink Reply by Kathy on July 26, 2010 at 6:08pm

Hi,

Yes those choices are made by the BIA. They have a budget to work on things like events, benches, lamp posts/trees/lighting, other things like the community square that is supposed to be built. Flags and signage within the BIA, trash cans, flowers along Lake Shore. It would be nice if new business owners would become more involved in the BIA, the people on the board have been around for a long time. It is my opinion that there needs to be some sort of goal and vision for the area and it would be nice if new business owners would want to become board members and hold regular meetings. Having said that, I know it is very time consuming to run a business and getting involved in extra activity is hard, especially if you have a family AND a business to run. Good conversation and topic though :)

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Permalink Reply by Fran on July 28, 2010 at 10:01pm

I agree with zukeeper. I think the lights look terrible. I wish we could have something a little classier and a little less "red light district/Las Vegas".