![An arch sign will be placed at the intersection of Main Street and State Road 90. [CONTRIBUTED PHOTO]](http://127.0.0.1/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/ghows-DA-8e5ba7bb-40a5-127d-e053-0100007fe323-2bc45693.jpeg)
CRESTVIEW — The Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) met for a special brief meeting Monday night to discuss three new signs for the downtown Crestview District.
In January 2018, the process for the gateway sign project began with the presentation to the board of the sign concepts. POLY Engineering, a design firm with the city of Crestview, developed the plans and bid package for the CRA.
City staff put out an ad for bids to build the signs twice. After no bids were received, the CRA waived the purchasing policy fee.
“At our CRA strategic planning, I presented to them what was on the books and asked what things they wanted to prioritize,” said city manager Tim Bolduc. “The signs were one of the things they wanted to get done.”
Earlier this month, the CRA received quotes from Signs Galore for the building of the three new signs. Since Signs Galore has done signage for the city previously and no other bids were received, city staff brought a motion before the CRA board on Monday to approve a budget, not exceeding $250,000 for the signs and to allow the city staff to negotiate the final cost of building the signs.
“It’s important to note that this is within the CRA district,” Bolduc said. “We have money set aside purposefully for things such as these.”
The CRA unanimously approved the motion.
Each of the signs will be located at one of the main entrances into the downtown district. The signs line up with the CRA’s strategic plan to revitalize the district and create a sense of identity.
One sign, a planter, will read “Welcome to Historic Crestview” and will be placed at intersection of Main Street and South Ferdon Boulevard.
Another sign, reading as “Historic Crestview,” will be an archway sign placed at the intersection of Main Street and State Road 90.
The third sign will be an electronic tower sign that will be placed by the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office building located next to the courthouse.
Bolduc said the electronic sign will have scrolling announcements for different events and other things happening within the CRA district.
The details of the construction process and timing of project has yet to be determined.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: New downtown signage to help revitalize district