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Billboard Law Upheld, But Will Buildings Department Enforce?
By
John Del Signore
Published Apr 1, 2009
Modified Apr 1, 2009
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By
John Del Signore
Published Apr 1, 2009
Modified Apr 1, 2009
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Yesterday a federal judge ruled against a coalition of billboard owners trying to overturn a 2001 city zoning resolution that restricts advertising near highways and implements tougher permitting procedures. A giant billboard for Platinum Gentleman's Club is just one recent example of advertising outraging a community, and lawyers for the city hailed the ruling for "minimizing visual clutter, preserving neighborhood character and reducing unnecessary distractions to drivers on its major roadways." Clear Channel Outdoor and other sign owners had chafed at the zoning regulations, but the Buildings Department has been slow to enforce the changes, and has been criticized for a faulty approach to everything from crane safety to building inspections. But with the city strapped for revenue, we may see the department emboldened by yesterday's ruling, and one illegal billboard near Astor Place has already incurred almost $1 million in fines. (Whether the offendors will ever pay up is another question.)
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billboard
judge
ruling
John Del Signore
Originally from the Albany area, John Del Signore has called NYC home since 1995. In addition to his thousands of meticulously-crafted bespoke blog posts for Gothamist, his writing has also been published in The Awl, Deadspin, The Nervous Breakdown, and performed at The Brick Theater in Brooklyn.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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