Commercial Corridor or Historic District?

In November, after a public hearing, the Historic Preservation Commission denied a certificate of appropriateness for an internally illuminated sign to be affixed to the east side of 251 Allen Street, a house that has been operated as a B&B, by different owners, since 2002. The opinion of the HPC was that a sign of the size proposed was inappropriate in a historic district.

Today, the proposed sign was back before the HPC, but the changes to the design for the sign were minimal. Instead of the diameter of the sign being 7 feet, it would be 82 inches--a difference of 2 inches. Instead of being all plastic, it would be a combination of aluminum and plastic.

The applicant, Ben Rinzler, who owns the Hudson Whaler (542 Warren Street) and the Hudson Mariner (26 Warren Street) and plans to develop 10-12 Warren Street as a hotel, argued that Third Street was "clearly a commercial corridor" and he was "trying to do something tasteful." He told the HPC that if the sign were any smaller it would not be legible and asserted that the code allowed a sign as big as 12 feet by 12 feet.

Nevertheless, the HPC once again denied a certificate of appropriateness, maintaining that, despite the fact that the sign was visible from a "commercial corridor," it was located in a historic district and was hence not appropriate.  

It is expected Rinzler will make a third attempt to get his sign approved, but one has to wonder why he thinks putting a sign on the side of this building is so important. Does he think guests of the Hudson Navigator won't be able to find their destination without an illuminated sign to guide them? Overnight stays in Hudson aren't exactly like 1950s road trips. It's not as if people driving into town are going to see the sign and say, "That place looks nice. Let's stay there tonight." 

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