"I hate it," he said. But, why? "Well, it's just [expletive] stupid," he responded. "What is it even supposed to be?"
Bill Kindle is no art critic, no architect, nor historian. He sells cars on Business Route 1 and he hates the Middletown Monument.
Kindle can't quite explain his disdain for the four-story artifice at Oxford Valley Road and Lincoln Highway (also known as Business Route 1).
But he's not alone. In online reviews, users have described the Middletown Monument as "amazingly awful" and "one of the most ugliest things ever."
Catalyst Outdoor began construction on the Middletown Monument in 2018, which doubles as an electronic billboard at the corner of Lincoln Highway and Oxford Valley Road.
And recently announced plans for an $11 million overhaul of the intersections it stands over had many motorists hopeful the road upgrades may lead to the monuments demise. Not so fast, PennDOT said. The "M" isn't going anywhere.
The monument was approved by Middletown board members who no longer serve on the township's board of supervisors. On Sept. 7, this news organization reached out to five current members of the board.
None of the current board members responded to requests for comment on the Middletown Monument.
It should be noted that back in 2016, Catalyst salesman Robert DeGoria made at least two pitches to the Newtown Board of Supervisors to erect a similar "monument" sign on the Bypass on Township owned land at Silver Lake Park.
Mr. DeGoria will serve probation for lying to federal investigators about intended bribe payments that former Lower Southampton public officials sought in exchange for promises of a favorable outcome for an electronic billboard proposal. More...
According to the minutes of the June 8, 2016, BOS meeting, a second presentation was called for by Supervisors Phil Calabro and Jen Dix:
Mr. Calabro reminded the Board that it had recently seen a presentation from Catalyst sign company which would install signage that could generate revenue to the Township. Mr. Calabro said that he was interested in the gateway concept and thought it deserved further consideration.