[URBAN NOTE] On the proposed new location of the Sam the Record Man sign

[rfmcdonald]

Torontoist and Toronto Life and blogTO all happily noted last week that the iconic sign of the Yonge Street location of Sam the Record Man will be coming back to the streets of Toronto. The Toronto Star's Tim Alemenciak reported on the new location, looking down on Yonge-Dundas Square from the east.

Toronto’s iconic Sam the Record Man sign may have a home atop a city-owned building near Yonge-Dundas Square if a new plan is approved.

But the local councillor says the proposed building is slated for sale in 10 to 15 years, potentially endangering the long-term future of the beloved sign.

“Overall I think there are some great positives that come out of this proposal . . . the fact that the sign will be seen again,” said Councillor Kristyn Wong-Tam whose ward includes the sign’s former Yonge St. location. “People have been asking for the signs to come out of storage.”

Deputy city manager John Livey’s plan suggests placing the double-record neon sign atop the Toronto Public Health building at 277 Victoria St., overlooking Yonge-Dundas Square.

[. . .]

“What we’ve heard from residents of the community and residents at large across the city is they would like to see the sign visible from Yonge St.,” said Wong-Tam. “So now they’ve chosen to have that sign placed above Yonge-Dundas Square which I would say is the most iconic space in the city next to Nathan Phillips Square.”

Here's my photo of the sign at its original location, in 2008.