Image via WikipediaSAN FRANCISCO — A restored Coca Cola sign decorating the side of a San Francisco house that may date back to the 1930s has set off a surprising spat among neighborhood residents and city officials.
The city says the bright red painted sign on the side of Richard Modolo's home violates anti-billboard laws and must come down.
City Supervisor David Campos, who represents the Bernal Heights neighborhood, said he's received passionate e-mails from people on both sides of the debate. Some are concerned that the sign promotes a sugary drink, sending a dangerous message to students at a nearby elementary school.
"We're trying to fight childhood obesity," Campos said. "We don't want to promote kids drinking Coca-Cola."
But Campos said he's considering introducing legislation that would create a special "historic sign district" to preserve the 15-by-7-foot sign.
Modolo said he discovered it in 1991 when he removed asbestos siding from his home, which was a grocery store years ago. A friend touched it up and the sign remained.
"It's been this way for 20 years, so I guess it is part of the neighborhood," the 64-year-old Modolo told the San Francisco Chronicle.
But city planners came out to inspect the sign after receiving a complaint last month and deemed it illegal. Modolo was told he could face a daily fine of $100 until it was removed.
The identity of the person who filed the complaint has been redacted from city records.
"I think it is a neat-looking sign," Dan Sider, the city's sign expert, told the San Francisco Chronicle. "But the law is totally nondiscretionary. This is a residential district and an unpermitted general advertising sign."
LEAVE THE SIGN ALONE. COCA-COLA IS WHAT WE ALL GREW UP ON AND IT IS A PART OF AMERICAN HISTORY.
The city says the bright red painted sign on the side of Richard Modolo's home violates anti-billboard laws and must come down.
City Supervisor David Campos, who represents the Bernal Heights neighborhood, said he's received passionate e-mails from people on both sides of the debate. Some are concerned that the sign promotes a sugary drink, sending a dangerous message to students at a nearby elementary school.
"We're trying to fight childhood obesity," Campos said. "We don't want to promote kids drinking Coca-Cola."
But Campos said he's considering introducing legislation that would create a special "historic sign district" to preserve the 15-by-7-foot sign.
Modolo said he discovered it in 1991 when he removed asbestos siding from his home, which was a grocery store years ago. A friend touched it up and the sign remained.
"It's been this way for 20 years, so I guess it is part of the neighborhood," the 64-year-old Modolo told the San Francisco Chronicle.
But city planners came out to inspect the sign after receiving a complaint last month and deemed it illegal. Modolo was told he could face a daily fine of $100 until it was removed.
The identity of the person who filed the complaint has been redacted from city records.
"I think it is a neat-looking sign," Dan Sider, the city's sign expert, told the San Francisco Chronicle. "But the law is totally nondiscretionary. This is a residential district and an unpermitted general advertising sign."
LEAVE THE SIGN ALONE. COCA-COLA IS WHAT WE ALL GREW UP ON AND IT IS A PART OF AMERICAN HISTORY.
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