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Commission approves projecting sign at 215 E. Michigan for downtown tenant
Summary
Sign contractor Steve Vandersloot won approval for an internally illuminated projecting sign at 215 E. Michigan; the commission noted the building is non‑contributing and that mounting will avoid damage to historic brickwork.
The Kalamazoo Historic Preservation Commission unanimously approved a certificate of appropriateness for a projecting sign at 215 East Michigan, finding the sign's design and mounting method meet Secretary of the Interior Standards 9 and 10.
Steve Vandersloot of SignArt presented the application. He described the sign as internally illuminated with an opaque white background so the tenant's colors show, and said the mounting will use through‑bolts that pass through mortar joints to avoid damaging brick. "We have all kinds of flexibility so that when we do fasten the sign to the building, it's a through bolt situation. It allows us to pass through mortar joints so we don't have to damage the brick in the process," Vandersloot told the commission.
Commission staff reminded members that the building is a non‑contributing structure in the district; commissioners discussed attachment methods and illumination. Vandersloot said the wiring will be concealed and there will be no exposed conduit or indirect glare. The staff member and commissioners agreed the sign meets the ordinance and preferred placement for upper‑level signage.
The motion approved the certificate of appropriateness "as it complies with the Secretary of the Interior Standards 9 and 10." The commission's roll call was unanimous: Katie, Christie, Dana and James all voted yes. Staff said it would complete reviews and follow up with the sign contractor before work starts.
The commission noted that recent changes to the building's façade reflect past efforts to harmonize a mid‑century commercial property with the historic streetscape, and that the proposed sign aims to be compatible without damaging historic materials.
