Kensington hopes for new sign this year

BY CHRIS CADELAGO, ASSOCIATE STAFF WRITER

THURSDAY, JULY 29, 2010 AT MIDNIGHT

/ UNION-TRIBUNE FILE

Most of the original letters of the Kensington sign spanning Adams Avenue will be used in the new neighborhood sign.

Well into celebrating the neighborhood’s 100th year, Kensington residents are hoping their centennial gift arrives beforeThanksgiving

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That would be the Kensington sign, a decaying landmark that had become the subject of great consternation. One of a handful of signature signs across San Diego

, it was taken down for repairs in October 2008, months after the city granted it historic status.

Harold Koenig, who heads up the group that sought to update the sign, said the community reached a compromise after consulting with experts on historic renovation. His group, The Kensington-Talmadge Community Association, had planned to replace the sign.

But others, such as graphic artist Celia Conover, fought for its renovation, and a city board sided with them. The historic designation required that every effort be made to restore the landmark. If that wasn’t possible, it was to be replicated.

The result: 19 of the original 20 letters will be saved, but just about everything else will be new.

“We are very happy that it is going forward with cable suspension and a replication of the original sign,” Conover said. “People in the community will be surprised when it’s complete because it will be repainted to the original color. We were fortunate in finding a good sampling of the original paint to match that had not been exposed to the elements.”

The new design must be reviewed by a historic resources board, with final plans submitted to the Kensington-Talmadge Planning Group, said Thomas Hebrank, the group’s chairman.

“While the planning group didn’t weigh in, we support the compromise,” he said. “And we’re hoping the Development Services Department expedites the process.”

The disagreement, which came on the heels of the neighborhood celebrating its 100th year, was the subject of lengthy debates, dividing the 600-acre district of nearly 4,400 residents.

“It’s clear to me that the people want the sign back more than they want it to look one way or another,” said Koenig, a retired Navy vice admiral. “Basically, it’s going to look like the sign that came down except it will not swing in the breeze.” He added it would be the original color — dark green.

Each of the nearly 400 donors to the new sign were informed that they would be reimbursed if they didn’t agree with the new design. Only a dozen asked for their money back.

Perched in front of the library, the sign stretched across Adams Avenue off Marlborough Drive. It was created in 1952 by the San Diego Neon Sign Co. The Kensington Park Business Association bought it for about $1,100, according to local records.

Katie Keach, deputy chief of staff for Councilman Todd Gloria, said the councilman hoped to have the sign installed by the centennial celebration in November. The Kensington-Talmadge Community Association raised roughly $80,000 for the job, through a combination of donations and a $40,000 county grant.

“We’re all pressing as hard as we can,” Koenig said. “Then we’ll be able to move on to something else.”