old town chinatown news...
November 25,2008
University of Oregon Proposes to Change "Made in Oregon" sign
by shooter
A pre-application conference has been requested to discuss proposed changes to the Made in Oregon sign that resides on the White Stage Building in Old Town. The proposal is to change the words on the sign from "Made in Oregon" to "University of Oregon."
According to Brian Libby at Portland Architecture, the deer, typeface and typeface size are restricted, but not the words. Made in Oregon aren't the original words for the sign and White Stag isn't the original brand, the sign was originally for White Satin Sugar.
That hasn't stopped critics from voicing their opposition to the change to the Bureau of Development Services, according to the Portland Business Journal. Critics contend that the change would make sign less welcoming to visitors.
Tell us what you think, should the sign be changed or not?
Details for the Pre-Application Conference:
When: December 9, 2008, 10:30am
Where: 1900 SW Fourth Ave., 4th Floor, Room 4a
File #: EA 08-177012
Download the pre-application conference notice.
General Information About Pre-Application Conferences
What is a Pre-Application Conference?
A Pre-Application Conference is a meeting that the Bureau of Development Services has with a person who is interested in doing a development project in the City of Portland. City Bureaus send their representatives to this meeting to give information to the person about what each bureau will require.
What is the purpose of the Pre-Application Conference?
The purpose of the conference is to provide information to the applicant to help them prepare a complete project proposal. Interested parties may attend, but the purpose is to provide information to the applicant.
When is a Pre-Application Conference required?
A Pre-Application Conference is required prior to submittal of all Type III and Type IV Land Use Reviews.
posted at 09:38 AM
36 comments
Comments:
Rita - November 25, 2008 10:55 AM
It would be very sad to remove the Made in Oregon sign. We don't need to brand Portland as the UofO.I vote NO.
Kiri - November 25, 2008 11:05 AM
I say NO. Yes, U of O owns the building but I agree with Rita that such an iconic symbol of the city should not be branded as U of O. After all, there are several other really great schools in the City.
Robert - November 25, 2008 02:01 PM
It's the school's building and the school's sign. Made in Oregon is a company and has no historic right to it. Go ahead.
J - November 25, 2008 02:05 PM
The sign isn't branding Portland anything now and won't be branding Portland anything after. It's advertising and the brand it's promoting no longer exists. It just so happens that this sign in it's current configuration is a very visible Portland landmark.
Those other great schools in the city don't own the building, UO does. It's a pretty smart idea for marketing their Portland campus despite the opposition they are going to face.
IMO, they should leave it alone...but it's not really for us but the City to decide.
Tom - November 25, 2008 02:57 PM
I am a Beaver, and it while it might irritate me to see that sign driving home from Blazer games, but if they own the building, and it's legal for them to modify the sign, they should have EVERY RIGHT to do so.
Jordan - November 25, 2008 03:02 PM
I'm a duck fan, but a citizen of Portland first. I don't want to see the sign changed to a UO sign. I don't care if they own the building or not, this isn't Eugene.
Mike - November 25, 2008 03:02 PM
Change it to whatever, the Made in Oregon words are only a 20-30 years old. I remember White Stag. I think their best move is to make it a Portland or state of Oregon message, make it something meaningful and a gift to the city or state, people would be grateful and link it to UO. Another solution is simply use "Oregon" and folks will know what that means. But, whatever, it is UO's choice what to do, we should be pleased that they asked.
Robert - November 25, 2008 03:09 PM
Let them change it. After a couple of months no one will even notice. Seems most of the opposition will be from OSU, PSU, U of P, etc. Alum anyhow. The sign has no significant historical value as for its wording. I mean didn't they put a red nose on the reindeer?? Where was the outcry then?? Get over it Portland and quite fighting change. 02' U of O Alum (Architecture)
Hank Hosfield - November 25, 2008 04:03 PM
Sure, why not put a Swoosh on it, too.
Even better, how about a tasteful, small green O on the deer's nose...
TButler - November 25, 2008 04:53 PM
I went to U of O, but think that this is a symbol of the pioneering spirit of the state of Oregon. I grew up in the South, where everything we had was made in China. We should show off the ingenuity of our state and be proud that we produce so many items locally. The U of O is in Eugene, not Portland.
ambrown - November 25, 2008 06:57 PM
Just because they have the legal right to doesn't mean they should. IS NOTHING SACRED!? I like the Made in Oregon; it has sufficient kitsch while not being part of Phil Knight's empire. (Go ducks this weekend! Good luck on the civil war!)
Sheepsrevenge - November 25, 2008 08:26 PM
Go Ducks! Beat OSEwe!
RJBob - November 26, 2008 12:12 AM
'Made in Oregon' is the name of the former building owner's cheesy retail store. No historical significance whatsoever. Change it.
Tiggy - November 26, 2008 05:06 PM
I didn't even know that the Made in Oregon store was why we had that sign. I knew about the White Stag roots but the Made in Oregon sign means more then a store. I was born and raised in Portland best city anywhere! To me that sign is a reminder to all true Oregonians, who you are, why you are here, and where you are from. My vote is no. my suggestion which cost less is just ad a U of O logo to it. Show some respect to all the Beavers that have to look at it. Just cause you can is never a good reason for change.
DJL - November 26, 2008 06:20 PM
I have mixed feelings about it. A big UofO sign isn't really any different than signs you see on buildings in larger cities sporiting "SONY", "HITACHI", "SHARP", etc. I'm an OSU grad. I just hope they put a big BEAVER on the OHSU/OSU South Waterfront building :-)
MCU - November 26, 2008 06:09 PM
I went to U of O and I think it is an atrocity to have the sign changed. Historical or not. I LOVE the "Made In Oregon" sign. It's a welcoming message for all visitors who pass by here and a welcoming sign for all Portlanders who frequent downtown. It's become a monument of our city that we love so much. Who doesn't enjoy the "Made In Oregon" sign whenever we drive over the Burnside bridge? Who doesn't enjoy seeing the words "Made In Oregon" when we see its neon lights shining brightly into the night while we're in our cars on I-5? Are some of us not awestruck when we see the sign? I don't know about many of you who don't care about the sign, but I know will miss the sign once it's changed.
Alex C - November 27, 2008 01:54 PM
I've lived in Portland my whole life and while the old "WhiteStag" sign was just a brand name it lent more to the long-term history of the building (it was their warehouse for a huge amount of time) than "Made in Oregon" (when the building sat derelict) or the new proposed sign (which actually has some meaning to the updated building). The "WhiteStag" sign had lasted an enormous amount of time unchanged and shouldn't have been made into "Made in Oregon" in the first place. Go ahead and change it since it's only changing the newly made neon-lit words that are imitations of the original anyways.
m. - November 28, 2008 03:55 PM
The U of O doesn't own the building, they lease it.
Rob - December 01, 2008 09:25 AM
Take it down; it's an eyesore and blocks the majestic view of Big Pink!
JP - December 02, 2008 12:09 PM
After the Civil War last weekend the UO has established enough dominance to do whatever they want to do to that sign. Screw the Beavers. GO DUCKS!
Sheila - December 02, 2008 12:27 PM
NO, NO, NO
Alisa - December 02, 2008 02:48 PM
It's a hideous idea. YOU CAN'T CHANGE A LANDMARK. Promoting a school is just one disgusting aspect. It's an ICON. This is ridiculous!
Alisa - December 02, 2008 02:49 PM
It's a hideous idea. YOU CAN'T CHANGE A LANDMARK. Promoting a school is just one disgusting aspect. It's an ICON. This is ridiculous!
Gross - December 02, 2008 05:38 PM
From landmark to advertisement. GROSS!
ory - December 02, 2008 11:00 PM
It hasn't even been put up yet and its already causing controversy. I say if you must change it how bout something more universal everyone can agree on.
ted - December 02, 2008 11:00 PM
Im a city worker in the portland area, today I wanted to put a star on a christmas tree we had just decorated but couldn't because it offends people. I feel that changing the skyline to promote some school on the other side of the state is offensive to me. Knock it off.
Scott - December 10, 2008 08:57 AM
It's a City Icon and the U of O doesn't represent Portland. Make a replica in Eugene if you want to. I'm a Beavers fan and I would be upset and embarrassed to see an Oregon State sign up there. Better put some cameras on it if they do change it cause I'll stand on the Bridge all night chucking rocks at it.
Ralph - December 10, 2008 04:56 PM
The University of Oregon is in EUGENE, NOT PORTLAND! The proposed change is absolutely ridiculous. Please tell me this isn't being seriously considered. Whoever thought of it should be run out of town on a rail
If they want to change the sign, change it to "PORTLAND OREGON" that makes sense, and would support the city and skyline.
Jason Fischer - December 14, 2008 05:33 PM
Absolutely not.
conspiracyzach - December 26, 2008 09:08 AM
I recently posted videos on Utube about UO related development and how they refuse to cooperate with their neighbors that you may find interesting. To watch them go to Utube and use the search there with keywords:nike university of oregon (also UO is leasing the building with the sign and does not own it like another post suggested)
rangy - February 03, 2009 11:22 AM
Please do not change this sign. I grew up looking at it. It rempresents something important to this city. University of Oregon is based in Eugene. It is not relevant to this city, even if the University owns the building. It houses their distance programs, which are located outside the city of Eugene. This city is in danger of losing what makes it interesting and special. Respect the people who made this city what it is today.
jimm lasser - February 10, 2009 08:08 AM
We like that sign because it is not an advertisement anymore. Now, U of O wants to turn it back into an ad. No thanks.
Alley Parks - March 09, 2009 10:31 AM
Umm. "Made in Oregon" is a company. We're going from advertising a for-profit company to advertising a university that promotes the human capital of our state. This company's ad has been up since 1996; if PSU is so invested in throwing their weight around at City Hall, they can buy the White Satin Building.
Liz - March 16, 2009 11:44 AM
Visitors to the city don't know Made in Oregon is/was a store. The sign is a symbol of state pride (at least to us outsiders). To change it cheapens the university and the skyline.
Maureen - April 02, 2009 12:16 PM
I love that sign; to me it is a symbol of Oregon pride and a landmark. Yes I realize it's change 'brands' a few times, but 'Made in Oregon" seems to have taken on a larger meaning than the brand. I would like to see it designated 'historical' and left just as it is. "U of O" seems so mundane and commercial.
Robert - April 05, 2009 09:05 PM
The new sign should read: "NO FAT CHICKS"
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