On this cold and blustery day, Brick Watch noticed some rather optimistic signage on our walk to work this morning. First, an affirmation that, yes, walking to work is in fact hip:
Wait until we tell everyone on the scene! Then, as we passed a few trucks parked on the Mall, we saw this:
That one made us laugh, because any brickophile knows, a brick that’s made for walking is called a paver. As we continued along, Brick Watch sensed a certain change in life around the Mall. It was a transcendent experience really, as if everything was just easier to handle. Then we saw this sign that explained it all:
As we neared the home stretch, we noticed the city had taken the time to come up with a slogan for Brick Watch:
These signs went up earlier this week, and are part of the original marketing budget for the project. They were designed by Payne Ross, the marketing firm in charge of the Downtown Renewal project. "They’re there to give pedestrians something more than green barriers to look at," said 300 East Block Captain, Mary Loose DeViney. "They’re also meant to make people smile and remind them that the final result will be good."
There are 12 signs by Brick Watch’s count, and six messages, each repeated once. And, even we sometimes-facetious brickwatchers must admit: The whimsy of the signs is needed in such dour Downtown times. The most important message is this:
And it does seem progress is chugging right along. The area in front of the Paramount at the 200 block east is almost finished, granite trim and all. Brick Watch’s spirits were renewed as we took our first steps onto that wide open space (the barriers have been removed!) this afternoon. Plus, the bricking on the 400 block appears to be drawing to a close:
