Historic District tables request for name change

News-Times
News-Times

After a lengthy discussion last week, the El Dorado Historic District Commission tabled a request that would mean new signage and a name change for a facility within the Murphy Arts District.

A Certificate of Appropriateness was presented to the EHDC on Oct. 11 to install a new sign on the roof of the Griffin Music Hall, 101 E. Locust.

The sign would bear the name of First Financial Bank and include a music logo.

Blake Dunn, of CADM Architecture, Inc., presented the COA on behalf of FFB, explaining that the sign would recognize the bank for a major contribution it made early in the development of MAD.

Dunn said the illuminated sign would measure 15 feet and 6 inches, with a 39-inch logo — an eighth note wrapped in semi-circles extending from the left side.

The name of the venue would also be changed, tentatively, to the First Financial Music Hall at the Griffin, Dunn told commissioners.

Commissioners pointed to several concerns about the proposed project, including the placement of the roof-mounted sign, possible obstruction of some of the architectural/historic features of the building and the potential for sign clutter and confusion about what type of business is housed within the building.

Dunn noted that CADM was not a part of the conceptual development and design phases of the project, saying that the architectural firm was asked later to put together a COA package to present to the historic district commission.

COAs are required for most exterior projects within the commercial historic district, particularly those that would alter the architectural and historic character of the district.

Commissioner Doug Stanton said EHDC design guidelines prohibit roof-mounted signs within the district, but some exceptions may be allowed.

Per EHDC design guidelines, roof-mounted signs are prohibited unless approved by the commission in accordance with standards set forth in the design guidelines for sign design and placement.

Commissioners pointed out that existing roof-mounted signs within the commercial historic district, such as the neon Pegasus atop Laredo Grill, were grandfathered into the district nearly 20 years ago when the EHDC was formed and initially drafted design standards for the district.

Stanton expressed concern that if the COA is approved for the sign at the Griffin, then the EHDC may soon receive additional requests for roof-mounted signs.

Commissioners also mentioned an existing blade sign at the Griffin Music Hall entrance, which is southwest of the Griffin Restaurant.

The First Financial sign would be installed on the roof above the entrance to the musical hall.

Commissioner Diane Murfee referred to a design guideline that says “the number of signs on each building should be kept to a minimum to prevent unsightly clutter and confusion.”

Murfee used the guideline when posing two concerns: one regarding clutter and the other, confusion that could result from the FFB sign.

“Or do you consider that clutter?” Murfee asked.

She and other commissioners noted two other existing signs on the same side of the building.

One denotes the Griffin Restaurant and the other points visitors toward the box office to purchase tickets for shows in the music hall and MAD amphitheater, which is adjacent to the Griffin building.

“To me, it looks disjointed,” Murfee said.

Stanton and EHDC chairman Linda Rathbun agreed, saying the FFB sign could confuse visitors.

“Is it a bank where you go to get a loan or is it a music hall?” Stanton asked.

“I think you’re expressing concerns, visually, that I have. Right now, it’s two separate concepts, and they’re not connected, either visually or grammatically,” Rathbun added.

Dunn said the sign would be visible and serve as a wayfinding marker for visitors.

He said there have been past discussions about the need to better delineate entrance of the music hall and restaurant.

“I would suggest it’s more of a branding issue or an advertising issue to be worked out between the bank and the Griffin Music Hall,” Dunn said. “People have had trouble identifying the entrance (to the music hall), and I think this will help illuminate that.”

Commissioners also discussed the height of the sign, asking Dunn if it could be lowered to close the air space between the rooftop and bottom of the letters.

They also asked if the sign could be moved closer to the existing blade sign for the music hall, so the pair of signs could “better line up.”

Dunn said lowering the sign would require the shrinking of the letters to fit into a tighter space.

There was some concern about parts of the sign covering the brick arches, a key architectural feature of the Griffin building, that sit above the entranceway into the music hall, commissioners and Dunn said.

During the discussion, Dunn said he listened to commissioners’ comments and used them to sketch out some ideas for modifications to the conceptual design and placement of the sign.

He said he will present the ideas and commissioners’ concerns to First Financial Bank representatives.

“We want to cooperate and help,” Murfee stressed.

Commissioner Teresa Golliher agreed, saying, “First Financial Bank has done a lot for this town.”

Golliher suggested that the EHDC hold off on the COA request until next regularly scheduled meeting at noon Nov. 8.

“I think we should table this until we get more information and another drawing of what we’re asking for,” she said.

She said she would also like to hear from a FFB representative about the matter.

Tia Lyons may be contacted at 870-862-6611 or by email at [email protected].

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