Architectural experts toured several buildings in downtown ishpeming such as the Butler Theater and the Anderson building. Ishpeming’s downtown is unique because of a high number of historic structures in close proximity to one another. (Journal photo by Lisa Bowers)

ISHPEMING — The Ishpeming Downtown Development Authority has authorized the city manager to seek grant funding for new way-finding signage to help direct visitors to the downtown area.

The two proposed signs would consist of one-quarter inch plate cut into a 48-inch-by-43-inch obelisk shape similar to the “Welcome to Ishpeming” sign that was installed at the entrances to the city along U.S. 41 in 2016 and 2017. The signs will be painted nutmeg and will say “Welcome to Downtown Ishpeming” in white plastic letters. The estimated cost would be $2,500 for both signs.

DDA Chairman David Aeh said the new signs should be consistent with the existing ones.

“If we keep the theme we have on the highway — like it or loathe it — it’s different,” Aeh said. “It’s not something you are going to see in any other community … We identified our mining heritage, our skiing heritage — besides the good people that are here, as the things that we are most proud of.”

The proposed locations for the new signs would be at the blinking light where Lakeshore Drive and Greenwood Street merge into Division Street, with the other located at the corner of Hematite and Third Streets near the Bethel Lutheran Church, Aeh said.

City Manager Mark Slown acknowledged that seeking funding for the two signs is a good start, but told DDA members it was their decision.

“If you wanted to do full-blown way-finding signage for the city of Ishpeming and get every major destination, you are looking at a six-figure job,” Slown said. “I don’t see where that’s going to happen in any time soon. On the other hand, do we want to let the downtown go the way it is without bracketing and further recognition of it for that next 10-year period while we are waiting? To me it’s not a hard decision to say let’s do something now that makes sense.”

City Councilman Mike Tonkin, who attended the meeting as a community-member, said something is needed on the way downtown to point visitors in the right direction, in addition to the signs that indicate their arrival in the downtown.

“I get comments all the time,” Tonkin said. “I live on Third Street and I have literally had people stop in front of my house and ask ‘Is this the way to downtown?’ As soon as they come off the highway they are lost. We all know that Third Street comes into town, but out-of-town people don’t know that. People need redundancy. It’s more important that we get the signage out there. I still would like to see a common theme as far as the signage.”

Lisa Bowers can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 242. Her email address is lbowers@miningjournal.net