The Old Sign is Down, Finally!

A very big event in Farmington this past couple weeks may have gone largely unnoticed. The ugliest sign in Farmington, the high pylon sign which rose above our downtown center was taken down. Very early on a morning a week and a half ago, a large crane moved in and a skilled welder cut the pylons, and as he cut, sparks from the metal, resisting the change, showered the ground around the sign. Once cut and freed from the support posts, the crane safely lowered the sign to the ground. As it was lowered, as though a key moment was occurring in Farmington, the bells from the First Methodist Church played their melody at the 9am hour. This is a pretty significant event for our great little city. It is not just removing an ever-worsening eyesore, which had evolved over many years. When you look at the seemingly rusted and blank areas on the sign you can make out the old names of retail stores which had been in the center over the course of decades. Some of those faded letters on the sign spelled out Joanne Fabrics, Pier 1, Benchmark and there were many others. Many of the markings were hard to read, as they were one on top of another. The significance is hugely symbolic: we let go of the old sign and we let go those scars, and we have begun to build new, fresh places like Riley Park, the Grand River Streetscape and now Grove Street and The Groves Retail Center. New stores are becoming established: the Bellis Spa and Paint with a Twist. There are nine development projects underway in our little city, with many more to come. We are blooming. There will be more new growth, and new opportunities. The scarred, old sign is down finally, and the signs of prosperity in Farmington are up. Tom Buck Mayor City of Farmington