Thursday, June 25th, 2009 ::: Before and After

Welcome back to our before and after section, where we show you our handiwork.

This is what 260 Spadina used to look like:

Astral Media’s tri-vision was illegal and was installed without a permit.

Much better.

Back in 1993, Cieslok Outdoor obtained this variance [PDF] to build a large vinyl sign on this wall. The staff report recommending approval of the sign was written by a city planner named Sid Catalano, who is now the Director of Legislation for Pattison Outdoor.

After the variance was granted, but before the permit was issued, this Notice of Violation [PDF] was issued against Cieslok’s illegal sign. The permit was then issued, but only after Cieslok obtained permission from the Building Materials Evaluation Commission [PDF], whose approval held up the issuance of the permit and lead to the issuance of the NOV.

Cieslok then abandoned the location. This 2003 aerial photograph indicates that there was no fascia sign on this wall in 2003, only the old painted sign:

Since the construction of a new sign requires a new permit, in February 20, 2006, this NOV was issued against Astral’s sign:

It took three and a half years to get the sign down.