Seattle Jobs from Bigger Downtown Signs?

Could bigger downtown signs lead to more Seattle jobs?

That's what some city officials think.

In an effort to draw major businesses to the center of the city, a recent proposal from the Seattle Department of Planning and Development would allow prominent companies to place their names at the top of downtown skyscrapers.

If passed, the proposal would be the first of its kind, as Seattle has long protected its skyline from advertising. A code established in 1986 barred any building sign from being higher than 65 feet, although an exception was made during the 90s for hotels and public buildings.

The proposal also would put certain criteria around the type and size of signs allowed. For instance, only tenants with at least a 200,000-square-foot lease in one building could create a sign higher than 65 feet, and only one company could have its name at the top of a building.

According to an article by the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, Proponents of the new proposal claim that allowing companies to better brand their space will attract bigger tenants to the downtown area and give them an incentive to stay there.

The move also could help businesses create branding and thus in turn make Seattle a more competitive place for jobs.

However, opponents of the idea think the new proposal could ruin Seattle's skyline, which is internationally known for being clean and pure.