Chuck Wolfe traces the comeback of sandwich board signage in cities, explains how associated regulations work, and offers reasons why such signage should be carefully fostered.
Referencing sandwich board signs, Wolfe notes that "rethinking allowed uses in city rights-of-way can change the look and feel of streets in unexpected fashion" as "both fascinating symptoms and emblems of the changing city".
Referencing regulatory approaches in Aspen and Seattle, he offers five criteria for why sandwich boards should stay:
1. Homespun simplicity sells.
2. Artisans need work and small businesses need affordable ways to shine.
3. Well done signs bring character to neighborhood.
4. Sandwich boards can supplement permitted facade signage and increase the prominence of a small business.
5. Perhaps most important, like other forms of pop-up urbanism, removal is an option.
Wolfe concludes: "[W]e should foster and encourage quick fixes that innovate. If done right, aren't sandwich boards one example that can literally show the way?"
Thanks to Chuck Wolfe
FULL STORY: The Sandwich Board Makes a Comeback

Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly
Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

San Francisco Suspends Traffic Calming Amidst Record Deaths
Citing “a challenging fiscal landscape,” the city will cease the program on the heels of 42 traffic deaths, including 24 pedestrians.

Half of Post-Fire Altadena Home Sales Were to Corporations
Large investors are quietly buying up dozens of properties in Altadena, California, where a devastating wildfire destroyed more than 6,000 homes in January.

Opinion: What San Francisco’s Proposed ‘Family Zoning’ Could Really Mean
Mayor Lurie is using ‘family zoning’ to encourage denser development and upzoning — but could the concept actually foster community and more human-scale public spaces?

Jacksonville Launches First Autonomous Transit Shuttle in US
A fleet of 14 fully autonomous vehicles will serve a 3.5-mile downtown Jacksonville route with 12 stops.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Gallatin County Department of Planning & Community Development
Heyer Gruel & Associates PA
JM Goldson LLC
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
Jefferson Parish Government
Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Claremont