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See related article: Great Day Improvements to Anchor Former Ford Stamping Plant Site – Northeast Ohio News
WALTON HILLS, Ohio – The Village of Walton Hills Planning Commission has cleared the way for Great Day Improvements to move forward with a revised signage package for its new 247,000-square-foot manufacturing facility. During the January 15 meeting, officials approved a 30-foot monument sign and a shift in building material technology, marking a significant step in the company’s local expansion.
Melissa Skinner, Vice President of Marketing for Great Day Improvements, presented the updated proposal to the commission, emphasizing a “consolidated alternative” to the multiple signs allowed by village ordinance. The center of the discussion was a 30-foot-tall freestanding monument sign designed to overcome the site’s unique topography. Skinner explained that the property’s steep embankment and mature tree canopy would completely obscure a code-compliant 12-to-14-foot sign, creating a “permanent visibility barrier” for drivers at the intersection of Alexander and Northfield Roads.
The commission also approved a pivot in how the company’s branding will be applied to the building itself. While original plans called for logos to be painted directly onto the concrete, Skinner noted that Ohio’s winter weather would delay that process until at least summer. Instead, the company will utilize a low-profile aluminum frame with a flex composite material—the same durable system used by the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field. This alternative allows for immediate installation and easier maintenance if branding changes in the future.
While some members, including Commissioner Janice Olecki, expressed lingering concerns that the 30-foot height might feel “too visual,” the majority of the commission viewed the plan as a successful compromise. The new design is a 50% reduction from the company’s original 50-foot request. Village Planner George Smerigan and Street Commissioner Robert James were present to review the technical aspects of the variances, which had already received unanimous support from the Board of Zoning Appeals.
Beyond the aesthetics, the meeting highlighted the economic impact of the facility, which is now in full production. Skinner reported that all employees reported to the Walton Hills site this week, where the company operates its primary glass tempering and enclosure manufacturing. A second tempering oven is currently being relocated from Macedonia to the Walton Hills hub to keep up with the demand of their national retail operations. A grand opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony, potentially featuring a visit from the Governor, is expected once the new signage is installed this spring.