Over the last few months, Charlotte-based SignArt has been installing the "Old Bull" sign on top of the building of the same name in American Tobacco's Phase II.
Sometime recently -- I'm not sure precisely when -- the sign began to light up at night:
Note that the sign sits where an additional story once did on the Italianate beauty. I doubt the Dukes could have pictured a giant neon sign on top of Old Bull; then again, I doubt they ever expected it would have had metal siding on it, as it did for decades, hiding the Italianate architecture.
(Photo courtesy Endangered Durham.)
Dang! I was hoping they would put up the 'Durham - Renowned the World Over' logo again.
Posted by: JNB | August 25, 2008 at 01:57 PM
How did that get approved? Particularly in a city so (supposedly) opposed to billboards. Moving neon?
I guess this got a Certificate of Appropriateness? Maybe flashing neon is historically accurate.
Posted by: Tar Heelz | August 25, 2008 at 04:35 PM
Hard to believe that is the same building. The area around ATC is shaping up quite well.
Posted by: aow0526 | August 25, 2008 at 04:37 PM
they paid how much for that?
Posted by: roflmao | August 25, 2008 at 07:35 PM
I think it looks cool, and quite appropriate for the district.
Posted by: GreenLantern | August 25, 2008 at 07:47 PM
By seeing this sign at last Saturday's Bull's game I was very impressed. I was even more impressed by a sold out crowd at the stadium. It makes me excited about working downtown and maybe sometime soon I will be living downtown.
Posted by: brianb | August 25, 2008 at 07:48 PM