Queen City Creative‘s design of a silhouetted city skyline and bold lettering in Staunton above for the new water tower at Staunton Crossing was part of discussion at Thursday’s regular meeting of Staunton City Council.
Each of the letters in Staunton will be in upper case, bold and 7 feet tall with the design repeating for 220 feet around the 1-million-gallon elevated tower.
“Since this is obviously a great opportunity to display the area’s growth and heritage, we’ve been [working with a graphic designer],” said Staunton City Engineer Lyle Hartt.
The cost to paint the tower while still on the ground is more affordable than waiting after it has been placed. Hartt said the water tower will also be placed on top of a hill so that it can meet a hydraulic-grade line from Staunton Public Works. Painting is scheduled to begin in August.
City staff is excited about the design, which will be painted on a coated steel canvas. However, Councilwoman Corrie Park said she had hoped the community would have an opportunity to provide input on the design.
“I think the design is great. It feels very familiar to me,” she said.
Staunton City Manager Leslie Beauregard said that, while she understands the desire some community members may have to provide input on the design, other opportunities will be available for community input, such as at the Wharf Lot after it is redesigned.
Mayor Michele Edwards asked why the design is not a branding logo for the city.
Staunton Director of Economic Development Amanda DiMeo said that branding logos change over time. The water tower at Staunton Crossing will be forever and is funded by a $9 million state grant and state grants have certain requirements. She said the state would not allow community input about the design for the water tower.
Painting of the design and installation completion are expected by summer 2025. A design advertising that the water tower is in Staunton is important because it will be visible from Interstate 81, the eastern portion of the city and several miles away into Augusta County.
Funding is from a $9 million Virginia Business Ready Sites Program grant from the Virginia Economic Development Partnership, and includes the elevated storage water tank, 2,400-linear feet of tank access road and water supply line, and approximately 6,100 additional linear feet of water lines and distribution equipment throughout the Staunton Crossing area.
The water tower’s primary purpose is to support future business development in Staunton Crossing off of Richmond Avenue, and provide additional water storage in the eastern portion of the city for improved fire flow and resiliency.
Related stories:
Staunton marks completion of road opening up interior of Staunton Crossing
Staunton: City plans for more business, residential growth with water tower
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Rebecca Barnabi
