Times Square in New York, The Denver Theater District in Colorado, and Piccadilly Circus in London — each is a vibrant district with neon signs and bright lights.
Now, Atlanta leaders want a portion of the downtown core to be illuminated with large signs and video boards just as the city preps for marquee events including the Super Bowl in 2019.
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The area would stretch from the
Georgia World Congress Center east to Piedmont Avenue, and from the attractions at Ivan Allen Jr. Boulevard south to Underground Atlanta. The district would include the new Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Philips Arena, The Tabernacle and
Georgia Aquarium.
This week, an ordinance was introduced in Atlanta to allow for new permits for property owners to install signage in the district. The new guidelines would be far less stringent than those currently on the books.
“In downtown today, and most of the city of Atlanta, the sign ordinance is very restrictive,” said
Jennifer Ball, vice president of planning and economic development for CAP. But, she said, in the past the city once had more bright signs, such as the neon Coca-Cola sign on downtown's Olympia building.
The new legislation would drop restrictions, such as height limits, and also allow for new technology, such as light projection to decorate empty building walls.
Media companies would have to go through a review process for the signs, and would have to agree to reserve programming space during certain special events in the city.
It’s an effort to create a more light and bright public space for the city and to drive more economic activity downtown, Ball said. It also will help create energy around major sporting and music events.
Several are teed up. Atlanta will host the college football championship in 2018, the Super Bowl in 2019, and the Final Four in 2020.
y'all go to State/Spellmen? I ain't they had em like that
