The Sign Turns 30 in March – Let’s Get It Ready
It’s back. Thanks to the awareness and pressure we created as a community this summer, the City of San Diego found the $24,000 needed to replace the University Heights sign’s failing neon — and in the early hours of Wednesday, Sept. 9, YESCO energized the glowing new neon.
It happened at 4 a.m., before the traffic. A three-person crew, a 30-foot and an 80-foot boom truck — and about two and a half hours were all it took to install the new neon and the first set of replacement transformers. As the last tubes lit, the sign glowed as brightly as it did on its very first night more than 30 years ago.
That was Phase 1. The neon is the most visible part of the sign, but three decades of sun and salt air have taken their toll on everything beneath it — and the bigger job is still ahead.
What’s left to do
The full refurbishment will send the trolley back to YESCO’s shop for a few weeks. There, the crew will carefully remove the neon, replace the remaining transformers and all of the electrical, and completely sand and repair the base metal. After fresh paint and a protective clear coat, the decorative decals will be reapplied. While the trolley is away, the arch and posts will be stripped and repainted as well. When it all comes back together, the sign will be as good as new — just as it was in March 1997.
This is the first major refurbishment in the sign’s 30-year life, and it should keep it looking great for decades more. The cost: about $80,000.
The challenge — and how close we are
Here’s the exciting part. Three generous donors have put up a combined $35,000 matching challenge: Jessica Colosimo and Case Iest launched it with $25,000, and Louisa Campagna and UHCA each added $5,000. Every dollar the community gives is matched dollar-for-dollar, so your gift counts double.
Neighbors have already given $17,360, and with the match that brings us to $52,360 — well past the halfway mark. But the full match isn’t unlocked yet. Just $17,640 more in community donations by Dec. 31 releases the entire $35,000 and carries us to $70,000 — within reach of the finish line.
Every dollar counts, and it counts twice right now. Gifts of $1,000 or more will be recognized on a donor plaque installed at the base of the sign.
Donate at link.uhsd.org/signrestore. You can also give stocks or bonds or through a Qualified Charitable Distribution or Donor Advised Fund — email saveoursign@uhsd.org for details. Follow our progress on the donation page, in UH News, and on social media at @universityheights_sd.
We made some noise to save our sign. Now let’s finish what we started and have it fully refurbished in time for its 30th anniversary next Spring!
