The unanimous approval by the Santa Ana City Council to add ‘wayfinding’ signage downtown was not viewed favorably by some of the city’s business and community members.
Santa Ana Business Council consultant Madeleine Spencer said it looks as though the “East End” signage is publicly funded, yet is primarily beneficial to a private entity. The Signs are supposed to help direct visitors to Santa Ana’s increasing popular downtown. However, Spencer pointed out that the name, East End, is part of the downtown area owned primarily by Ryan Chase.
Chase, the president of the agency that is marketing Fourth Street, Downtown Inc., already faces opposition due to his agency causing what some Santa Ana resident consider gentrification, according to the Orange County Register. Spencer believes East End is a brand, and council is providing it with special treatment by publicly funding signage for it.
At the December 1 meeting, Latino Health Access and the Santa Ana Business Council, two groups that are aligned to preserve the Latino culture and businesses of Fourth Street, pointedly spoke out against the “East End” signage, arguing that they could diminish the opportunities for business that are not part of the private brand designation area.
An promotional strategy involving a banner printing service may help to assuage the effect of the approved additional signage, or support arguments against it.Get a Free Quote for Signs
