An eye-catching mural on a wall that rings a busy route in downtown St. John’s can stay as is, where is.
The wall art is painted along a private retaining wall where Rennies Mill Road meets Empire Avenue on a blind corner.
A painted mural on a private retaining wall at Rennies Mill Road and Empire Avenue (VOCM News)
It’s considered a wall sign, which can be no more than three square meters, yet the current one is 10 times that size.
Still, the city’s Built Heritage Experts Panel recommended approval, which council did unanimously during yesterday’s public meeting.
Councillors Sandy Hickman and Tom Davis originally opposed the application, citing traffic distraction concerns.
But the city’s deputy city manager for planning and engineering, Jason Sinyard, allayed those concerns.
“This was not referred to traffic staff. Generally, with proximity to intersections, they have concerns with variable message signs — signs that are changing,” he said. “Static signs are not generally an issue. You’ll see many businesses located on the corners of intersections do have signage, so for that reason this wasn’t referred to transportation staff.”
The mural includes pro-Palestinian and anti-war themes, but it was made clear that the content was not the issue for council.
The heritage property owner went through a similar process last year, and was almost fined for installing the mural without approval.
