In the grand scheme of Santa Barbara, businessman Steve Cushman believes his idea to install small, red ceramic tiles at dozens of city landmarks is no big deal.
But in the eyes of the city's downtown design gurus, the 12-inch round medallions sport one deal-breaking feature -- advertising.
"C'mon, I am just trying to do a small project," said Mr. Cushman, executive director of the Santa Barbara Region Chamber of Commerce. "This is not like I am erecting billboards. These are little 12-inch tiles set into the sidewalk. They are very small, very discreet. I can't believe it. Only in Santa Barbara would we make such a big deal about this."
But it is a big deal to the guardians of downtown design. The Historic Landmarks Commission doesn't want to open the gate to something it calls unprecedented: corporate advertising on public sidewalks.
The commission also believes it's not right to mislead the public into thinking that a business may have had something to do with the creation or the preservation of a historic building.
After rejection by the landmarks commission, the fate of Mr. Cushman's Red Tile Walk Project is now in the hands of the City Council, whose seven members will tackle the proposal on Feb. 1.
While members like the concept of marking historic landmarks, such as the Casa de la Guerra, Santa Barbara County Courthouse and the Lobero Theatre, plopping the names of advertisers on the ceramic tiles doesn't fit with Santa Barbara's downtown culture and tradition, they contend.
"It sets a dangerous precedent and opens the door for sponsors' names on any number of different things," said Steve Hausz, an architect and member of the landmarks commission. "Once you have approved something like this it is hard to say no to anything else. The whole point is to direct people to landmarks in town and not be a venue for advertising."
The lettering for the sponsors' names is about three eighths of an inch high.
Mr. Cushman dreamed up the red-tile walk idea while on a trip to Boston several years ago. There, tourists are directed to historic landmarks by following a red line on the sidewalk. Since Santa Barbara is no stranger to historic architecture, Mr. Cushman felt that something similar could be done here.
Posted by gandlwoods at December 22, 2004 08:47 AM