The old, towering sign at the Five Points intersection in Biddeford is about to get a facelift. Last week, a design by local artist Victoria “Tory” Gordon was chosen for a remake of the sign.

The design is centered around Biddeford’s zip code, with each numeral featuring vignettes of Biddeford’s history and culture, including images of seagulls and city hall.

“We’re excited about Tory’s work on this,” Mayor Martin Grohman said. “I think it’s exciting to think about beautifying Five Points.”

The effort to revamp the Five Points sign began in February, when the Downtown Development Commission was approached by the mayor to take on the project. From there, the commission issued a request for quote from local artists, receiving 20 submissions.

Downtown Development Commission Staff Liaison Brad Favreau said the commission was expecting to receive six to eight submissions.

“There was a lot of interest in this project,” Favreau said. “We’re very gratified.”

In April, the commission held a public engagement event attended by many of the artists and members of the public interested in the project, where the commission talked about three main concepts that would inform the final design.

The concepts included place making, gateways, and visioning.

“Five Points intersection really is a gateway into downtown,” Favreau said. “It’s a major hub to the downtown area.”

Using the three concepts, the commission narrowed the submissions to three finalists and formed a jury of commission members and members of the newly formed Public Art Commission to review and select a finalist.

“It was very difficult,” Favreau said.

Ultimately, the design by Gordon was chosen.

“It was more thoughtful about Biddeford’s culture and heritage,” Favreau said. “It’s a more detailed design than the competing design.”

The next step in completing the project is creating a detailed budget and applying for grant funding, both of which Favreau is working on.

If all of the lights are green, Favreau hopes to have the sign completed by January 2026.

“This has been so interesting to the community because that intersection with the sign is a bit blighted,” Favreau said. “Just to improve that intersection will make the experience of moving through Five Points much more pleasant, and that’s really what place-making is all about.”