The SHNA has been planning to install the historical neighborhood signs since November, 2010. The city is allowing placement of 4 signs total, which the committee plans to install over a four year period. Ray Ballweg, the SHNA president explained that each sign costs $1600, and it only makes sense to put 1 sign up at a time with funding coming in at a slow rate.
Unfortunately, funding from the city for the neighborhood associations had been cut, making the fundraising for the signs a slow task, now under the responsibility of community donations and raised SHNA dues to see the project pull through on time Ballweg explains. However, as of April 6, 2011, the sign committee raised $1871 thanks to donations from twenty seven families and individuals, and yard and bake sales. According to the April meeting notes, the first sign is to be ordered soon. The leftover funds, Ballweg explains, will be the start of the funding for the second sign, starting once again the long process of obtaining more sources for funding.
The four sign locations and order of installation are as such.
1. South East Corner of 14th & State Street
2. North East Corner of 14th & Knox Streets
3. North East Corner of Highland Drive & Knox Street
4. East Side of South Garden Street 200 yards south of the Intersection of Garden & Oak
The approved sign design, a view of the South Hill neighborhood from the Bellingham Bay water, was created by Donna Auer, a previous SHNA president. "With South Hill being awarded the historic district status in 2008, its satisfying to finally see our plans for recognizing this fact pull through for our community," said Ballweg.
