A legendary Pike/Pine street corner is set to lose some of its commercial color. The Seattle Department of Construction and Inspections has issued a sign code violation to the Richmark Label Company for the Alaska Airlines advertisement that was added to the building in September in a space that has become notorious for its usually incongruous marketing messages targeting drinkers of Jager, travelers to Portland, and, now, airline flyers.
Richmark has until November 3rd to remove the billboard or risk $150 per day fines for the first 10 days of noncompliance, $500 per day after. A Richmark representative has not yet returned our call about the notice.
The alleged violation stems from the city’s prohibition of “off premise” advertising in its attempt to curb banners, posters, and signs that some businesses and building owners turn to as a revenue opportunity promoting everything from schools to wireless service. Alaska Airlines doesn’t sell any products or services inside the label factory or the liquor store resident in the building.
Some of the earlier colorful ad murals at the corner, or course, did hawk Jagermeister and tequila but even those days appear to be gone. According to city records, the building no longer has a permit for “on premise” ads. We guess that means no more John Criscitello Jager dongs.
In the meantime, the Richmark Label building’s mural-covered walls got an additional coat of code-compliant paint this summer with a new wave of public works from artists Denial, Bisco Smith, and Josh Doll.
What a bunch of party poopers. One more distinctive CH thing bites the dust.
If you don’t like the City of Seattle Sign Code you are welcome to work towards changing it.
Legendary? Distinctive?
It’s an Alaska Airlines ad. That went up recently. It’s a prominent corner and that space can have some catchy stuff in it, but I’m not seeing any loss of neighborhood character if they can’t advertise products there anymore.
Are you arguing for more advertisement in Seattle? Honestly, you strike me as the type of person that just really wants to complain about something.
Our tax dollars fund a dedicated sign inspector? To deal with a tasteful albeit commercial painting on private property. Yet all our public spaces are garbage dumps and tent cities and the city gov’t wants rules to make sure it stays this way. I for one would rather see more ads and less trash.
How about less trash AND fewer ads? The less visual pollution on our streets, the better.
Obviously the City isn’t devoting a huge $$ amount of resources to this, if it has taken them this long to get around to it.
That was surely the calculation for this position: Do we hire some guy to manage public advertising standards, or do we solve the homeless problem?
The Alaska ad stood out to me as different from the usual ad-artwork seen there. Honestly, it irritated me to see it in a place where eyes can usually feast on creative, clever paintings. I won’t be sorry to see the current ad leave….but will miss the “on premise” ads.