ERA Architects Inc. (2024)
As a feature of the Mirvish Village redevelopment, the "Honest Ed’s Alley Arrow" stands as the only original sign to be preserved and reinstated on-site. A distinctive red blade sign featuring blocky neon lettering and perimeter chaser lights, the sign will serve as a prominent marker for the entrance to the new Honest Ed’s Alley. As part of the team retained as heritage architects for the project, I served as a specialist advisor for the meticulous restoration of this local landmark.
My role involved overseeing the technical conservation requirements, from the specification of appropriate cleaning methodologies and archival paint selection to the design of bespoke mounting hardware to ensure long-term structural integrity. This process required balancing the sign’s historical character with the rigorous safety and performance standards of a modern, high-traffic development.
The sign is currently undergoing its final restoration phase and is slated for reinstallation off Bloor Street. By ensuring the sign is returned to its original prominence, the project preserves a critical piece of Toronto’s graphic history, integrating a tangible link to the site’s storied past within the contemporary fabric of the new Mirvish Village.
Artist's rendering of Honest Ed's Alley showing the location of the restored sign (Westbank)
