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Historic Architectural Review Board approves Hilton signage at 12 North 2nd Street
Summary
The Columbia Borough Historic Architectural Review Board approved a Certificate of Appropriateness for signage at the proposed Hilton hotel at 12 North 2nd Street after brief discussion over placement, sign type and lighting; the item will go to Borough Council for final consideration.
The Columbia Borough Historic Architectural Review Board voted to approve a Certificate of Appropriateness for signage proposed for the Hilton at 12 North 2nd Street during its Feb. 11, 2026 meeting.
Board members and the applicant discussed sign placement, elevation details and lighting before Chairperson Lutz moved to approve the application. The motion was seconded and passed by voice vote; the board recorded the outcome as an approval of the COA.
The application was submitted by Bollinger Group; staff identified Ken Bollinger and Don Murphy as the local installer and on‑site representatives. An applicant representative said the submitted signs reflect Hilton's vendor standards and that the installer would ensure required permits and vendor compliance. Chairperson Lutz asked specifically about night appearance and whether signs would include backboxes or neon; board members were told the signs are LED letters without neon or extensive backlighting and would not be aimed at lighting 2nd Street.
Members examined the drawings and clarified a design note: one element on the plan labeled as sign number 6 is a 'bleed' sign and there will be a projecting blade sign visible from passing traffic at roughly fourth‑floor elevation above the loading area. The board noted the overall quantity of signs would not change despite minor shifts in exact location on the façade.
Chairperson Lutz moved to approve the COA; the motion was seconded and the board approved the application by a voice vote. Staff said the COA will be forwarded to Borough Council for final action. Staff indicated council meets the first, second and fourth [weekday] of the month and tentatively scheduled the item for the fourth meeting at 7 p.m.; staff said they would confirm the exact council date and time by email and recommended at least one applicant representative attend the council hearing.
No public comments were offered during the meeting. The board will send the approved COA and meeting notes to Borough Council for further action.
