Residential Neighborhood Name Signs
TorvoTeratos-PGO
Posts: 161 ✭✭✭
I'm seeing a lot of residential neighborhood signs submitted (ex I pulled up from Google). I had assumed they were acceptable because I used to live in a named neighborhood (not gated) and both our entrance signs were pokestops/portals. I also used to petsit for someone who lived next to a gated community and that neighborhood sign was a gym.
But the more I come across, the more this feels wrong to me. The more I review, the more I also realize how the criteria has changed and updated over time as more people have nominated and reviewed waypoints, and I can't rely on using what originally made the cut to determine what makes the cut now. Many of these signs are placed into rock features but aren't overly artsy or interesting. I also don't know a lot of people looking to just explore/walk around new residential neighborhoods? So it doesn't really seem like a POI.
So are neighborhood name signs valid wayspots? Is this in the criteria somewhere and I've managed to miss it?
Best Answers
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Gendgi-PGO
Posts: 3,360 Ambassador
These are almost always ineligible. The most notable exception is if it exceptionally artistic in design.
It isn't usually a good idea to use current existing Wayspots to gauge whether or not something meets criteria and you should question each nomination with "what criteria does this meet" rather than simply if it is similar to those around you. Criteria can change over time and you don't always get the "full picture" as to why other things were previously accepted.
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Gendgi-PGO
Posts: 3,360 Ambassador
Wanted to follow back up real quick with a time Niantic chimed in:
A plain old sign would only be eligible if it has artistic or cultural relevance.
https://community.wayfarer.nianticlabs.com/discussion/comment/3958#Comment_3958
Answers
They aren't not eligible meaning that standard welcome signs are rejects, bit visually appealing ones or famous ones are good
These are almost always ineligible. The most notable exception is if it exceptionally artistic in design.
It isn't usually a good idea to use current existing Wayspots to gauge whether or not something meets criteria and you should question each nomination with "what criteria does this meet" rather than simply if it is similar to those around you. Criteria can change over time and you don't always get the "full picture" as to why other things were previously accepted.
Niantic has stated, on more than one occasion, that city/neighborhood/subdivision signs do not meet criteria unless they are culturally or historically significant. For examples, the Hollywood and Las Vegas signs.
Also, Wayspots that do not meet criteria exist and should not be used as examples of what is eligible.
Thanks, all!
Wanted to follow back up real quick with a time Niantic chimed in:
A plain old sign would only be eligible if it has artistic or cultural relevance.
https://community.wayfarer.nianticlabs.com/discussion/comment/3958#Comment_3958
The post at the link actually shows part of the problem:
A plain old sign would only be eligible if it has artistic or cultural relevance. Looking back at the AMA archive, this is reinforced by the June 2018 question:
Q: Are welcome signs for townships, municipalities, boroughs, cities, and towns valid portal submissions?
A: NIA OPS says, “Only if they have any historical or cultural significance.”
The June 2018 AMA answer indicates "historical or cultural"; the later reference/comment indicates "artistic or cultural". This expresses a shift from "historical" to "artistic", while maintaining "cultural" in both.
As soon as "artistic" is part of the criteria, loads of these community signs (in my area, at least) would become eligible, as they're not just simple 'post and board' signs - they are often quite artistic, reflect the "theme" of the neighborhood, and usually include elaborate landscaping (which is not valid on its own, but this does accompany the sign). As well, the architectural designs and/or logo can often exceed what would otherwise be acceptable on its own as a relative type of 'art'.
Indeed, some signs can be eligible for marking a historic neighborhood or district, and some can pass for being artistic. Unfortunately, both can be very subjective. If you see ones you feel qualify as art, by all means nominate them. Similarly, if the ones you review meet artistic eligibility, then vote to approve. My area has passed a few as being artistic, even a sign for a condo residence community.
My comments were not to state these are always ineligible, simply that the majority that end up in voting tend to not qualify.
This is my town sign, yes its a POI. Massive sign (the letters are 1.8m tall) and theres an artistic representation of the nearby mountains and the sun and moon arcs. It also lights up at night.
Meets the criteria of unique and artistic.
Most suburb signs near here are two posts with a metal name sign
In my part of the US the signs are usually arguably artistic and have brickwork/stonework/flowers/etc. However, they are almost always well within 40M of a residence so don't qualify anyway.
That’s not the rule.
Submissions that are with 40 of a *single-family house or farm* (private residential property) should be given extra scrutiny, but except in certain cases are not automatically ineligible.
Apartment complexes, condos, etc. are not private residential property.
Same @Geosafe1-PGO in my part of the US the neighborhood signs are usually going to impact a private residence so aren't eligible anyway. Love that Googong sign <3 @GallifreyanP-ING
To be more specific, they are usually within 10M of a single family residence - which seems to make them pretty clearly ineligible.