Workers from Masstar Signs of Greenville, S.C., install a new shopping center pylon sign at South Illinois Avenue and East Tulsa Road on Monday, Dec. 21, 2015, announcing Main Street Oak Ridge, the planned $80 million redevelopment of the former Oak Ridge Mall. Pictured above is Will Biggs of Masstar Signs. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)
They tore down the old Oak Ridge Mall sign on Wednesday and erected a new shopping center pylon sign on Monday. It announces Main Street Oak Ridge, the planned $80 million redevelopment of the former Oak Ridge Mall.
It’s one of the most eagerly anticipated and long-awaited projects in Oak Ridge. Here are photos from the removal of the former mall monument sign on Wednesday and the installation of the new pylon sign on Monday. See the story here.
Workers from Masstar Signs remove the old Oak Ridge Mall sign on South Illinois Avenue on Wednesday, Dec. 16, 2015. The mall redeveloper, RealtyLink, could close on the 60-acre property in January. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)
Will Biggs of Masstar Signs cuts through part of the old Oak Ridge Mall sign as it is removed on Wednesday, Dec. 16, 2015. The mall redeveloper, RealtyLink, could close on the 60-acre property in January. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)
Workers from Masstar Signs of Greenville, S.C., deliver one section of a three-section shopping center pylon sign to be installed at South Illinois Avenue and East Tulsa Road for Main Street Oak Ridge, the planned $80 million redevelopment of the former Oak Ridge Mall on Monday, Dec. 21, 2015. Pictured above are Masstar Signs employees, from left, Tim Cooper, Michael Pilgrim, Will Biggs, and Tim Massengale (on truck). (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)
Masstar Signs of Greenville, S.C., installs the second section of a three-section plyon sign installed at South Illinois Avenue and East Tulsa Road for Main Street Oak Ridge, the planned $80 million redevelopment of the former Oak Ridge Mall, on Monday, Dec. 21, 2015. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)
Workers from Masstar Signs of Greenville, S.C., install a new shopping center pylon sign at South Illinois Avenue and East Tulsa Road that announces Main Street Oak Ridge, the planned $80 million redevelopment of the former Oak Ridge Mall. Pictured above connecting wiring on Monday, Dec. 21, 2015, is Will Biggs of Masstar Signs. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)
Workers from Masstar Signs of Greenville, S.C., install a new shopping center pylon sign at South Illinois Avenue and East Tulsa Road that announces Main Street Oak Ridge, the planned $80 million redevelopment of the former Oak Ridge Mall. Pictured above welding the sign in place on Monday, Dec. 21, 2015, is Will Biggs of Masstar Signs. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)
Masstar Signs of Greenville, S.C., delivers the new Main Street Oak Ridge sign for installation at South Illinois Avenue and East Tulsa Road on Monday, Dec. 21, 2015. Pictured above is Tim Cooper of Masstar Signs. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)
Workers from Masstar Signs of Greenville, S.C., install a new shopping center pylon sign at South Illinois Avenue and East Tulsa Road that announces Main Street Oak Ridge, the planned $80 million redevelopment of the former Oak Ridge Mall, on Monday, Dec. 21, 2015. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)
Workers from Masstar Signs of Greenville, S.C., install a new shopping center pylon sign at South Illinois Avenue and East Tulsa Road that announces Main Street Oak Ridge, the planned $80 million redevelopment of the former Oak Ridge Mall. Pictured above on Monday, Dec. 21, 2015, is Will Biggs of Masstar Signs. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)
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Ed Wensell says
A sign of the times?
A sign of things to come?
And since it is taller than the old one, a sign from above?
Philip W Nipper says
Let’s hope its not from below….
Raymond Charles Kircher says
It isn’t taller than those trees in the Tree City. Time for public works, to purchase a taxpayer funded chainsaw and tree branch chipper, or at least out source the death of these young taxpayer funded trees.
Joseph Lee says
This is a good sign for Oak Ridge. Thank you RealtyLink.
Levi D. Smith says
I drove by the sign last night, and it looked really dark. I’m assuming that they haven’t completed the electrical wiring, or they are waiting until the project is complete to turn it on.
johnhuotari says
Levi,
It looked like there were a few guys working on the sign today.
Thank you,
John
Sam Hopwood says
The J.C. Penny sign is not present. Could this be a sign of things to come?
Will Smith says
One can almost always count on Mr. Hopwood for a postive comment.
johnhuotari says
Will,
Can you call me at (865) 951-9692?
Thank you,
John
Will Smith says
What would you like to talk about, John? I think I’ve sent you a Facebook “friend” request and you never responded. I’ll do it again.
johnhuotari says
Will,
I would like to confirm your identity by phone.
Thank you,
John
Will Smith says
And how will you do that? Have you responded to my Facebook friend request? Do you require everyone who posts to call? Somehow, I bet not. BTW, did you know that there are two John Huotaris on Facebook?
johnhuotari says
Hello,
From the commenting guidelines above: “Please use your real name, including last name…We do our best to confirm identities. If we are unable to confirm your identity or your comments don’t appear to be posted using a real, full name, your comments may not post or may be removed.”
Confirmation of an identity can include a phone call. This process is similar to the one we often use for letters to the editor, particularly when we don’t know the person submitting a letter.
I don’t see any useful identifying information on the Facebook profile that you mentioned, and I don’t respond to Facebook friend requests unless I have some idea of who the person is.
I will have to confirm your identity in order for you to continue commenting. You are welcome to call me at (865) 951-9692.
Thank you,
John
Sam Hopwood says
Thank you John.
Sam Hopwood says
It’s Christmas Will, don’t be such a Grinch. Lighten up and enjoy. 🙂
Raymond Charles Kircher says
Don’t get me started.
johnhuotari says
Hi, Sam. I have checked on this, and it’s my understanding that JCPenney is still part of the deal. But I don’t know have information on why their name isn’t on the sign yet. I’ll try to let you know when I have an update.
Thank you,
John
Sam Hopwood says
Thanks John, it just seemed a little curious.
johnhuotari says
I also wondered why it wasn’t up there.
MIKE STEVENS says
2) Be civil. Don’t insult others, attack their character, or get personal.
johnhuotari says
Thank you, Mike.
Dave Smith says
My first observation was that the sign is significantly taller than the OR Mall sign that it replaced. It is certainly much taller than the nearby freestanding signs for Red Lobster, Chic-fil-A and others. As a matter of fact, it partially obscures the view of Red Lobster as you travel north on Illinois. What is the maximum height for signage in a commercial zone?
johnhuotari says
I’ll have to check on that, Dave.
There were a few variances approved when the planned unit development, or PUD, was approved by the Planning Commission and City Council this spring. The only one I see related to height is to “increase the maximum height allowed for the Main Street Oak Ridge PUD Master Plan from 35 feet to 90 feet.” That variance will allow multi-floor residential units and the hotel. Some of the buildings could be up to five stories.
But I don’t know how that variance would affect sign heights, if at all.
If you’re interested, you can see the PUD master plan info starting on Page 101 of the City Council agenda for April: http://www.oakridgetn.gov/images/uploads/documents/agendas/2015Agenda/20150413.PDF
Thank you,
John
johnhuotari says
The city’s sign regulations are here: http://oakridgetn.gov/images/uploads/Documents/Departments/CommDev/Online%20Planning%20Applications/Article(14)XIV.pdf
The maximum sign height I see is 20 feet (for a pole sign in a community business district). But I don’t know if the PUD approved by council and planning commissioners established another height.
Raymond Charles Kircher says
John, they could’ve at least changed the name of that part of E. Tulsa Rd. Besides, can anyone name another “street” in Oak Ridge?