City Council delays proposal for illuminated office-building signs

The downtown Seattle skyline won't feature big corporate signs — at least for now.

City Council President Richard Conlin said Monday that a proposal to allow illuminated signs up to 18 feet high on downtown office buildings raised too many issues to immediately address and that the council may not take it up again until early next year.

"There were just a lot of questions and we have so many important issues before us. It didn't seem so important that we had to press ahead now," Conlin said.

The business community, including the Greater Seattle Chamber of Commerce and Downtown Seattle Association, supported the ordinance, saying it would allow major companies to display their connection to the city.

But others, including 27 members of the architecture faculty at the University of Washington, objected. They said big, corporate signs would deface the skyline. They also questioned giving away advertising essentially for free.

The change was sought by Russell Investments, which last year moved from Tacoma into the former WaMu Center on Second Avenue. To encourage the company's relocation, Seattle officials promised Russell a break on business taxes and proposed changing the sign code so Russell could place an illuminated logo on its building.

Russell officials did not return a phone call Monday seeking comment.

The Seattle Design Commission has rejected the proposal, saying it would not improve public space.

City planning staff recommended more public discussion and maybe amendments, Conlin said Monday.

Diane Sugimura, director of the Department of Planning and Development, told the council in a memo that other cities, such as Los Angeles, say that allowing signs on high-rise buildings establishes the relationship between a building and the tenant and is "a significant factor" to major tenants considering leasing office space.

The ordinance would apply to companies that lease at least 200,000 square feet in an office building. One sign per side would be allowed, and only on an upper portion of the building, not on the roof. Only white lettering would be permitted and the signs could not flash or revolve.

Conlin supported the proposal, noting that bright corporate signs already exist around the city. Safeco and Qwest Fields both sport glowing letters, as does the former Safeco Building in the University District.

Lynn Thompson: 206-464-8305 or lthompson@seattletimes.com