Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
Bureacracy Will Probably Keep Illegal Flatiron Ad Up
By
Jen Chung
Published Apr 8, 2005
Modified Mar 7, 2008
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Jen Chung
Published Apr 8, 2005
Modified Mar 7, 2008
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Here's official word on the Flatiron Building's temporary H&M ad: It must come down. The Department of Buildings and Flatiron Partners, which owns the 23rd Street icon, are squabbling over the legality of the sign; the DoB thinks it violates a number of things while the owners are counting their money. The sign won't come down until the city files notice in Albany and then goes to court over it, which might not happen overnight. The irony is that the sign is only supposed to be up for a month, which might make the point moot. Ah, bureaucracy!
A friend of Gothamist who works in real estate let us know about illegal signs:
A lot of...large property owners ...knowingly put up illegal signage on sidewalk sheds. They do it because the revenue they get from it is enormous. I've heard numbers as high as $200K thrown around for a large sign and even with a slew of [Environmental Control Board] violations, there are ways to tweak the system, postpone hearings and have penalties reduced; hence the odds of the penalties negating the revenue from the sign are slim to nil.
Fascinating! Plus, there's the free publicity that this stir has been causing. And here's the City's page on Buildings Department violations vs. ECB violations.
Photograph by Towleroad
Tagged
Albany
buildings department
city
court
department of buildings
flatiron building
gothamist
money
new york
new york region
new york times
News: NYC
publicity
real estate
the city
The Department
The New York
the new york times
York Region
Jen Chung
Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
Mamdani names re-entry specialist as chair of Rikers oversight board
Christopher Watler will help the department that a federal monitor says remains in crisis.
By
Ryan Kost
Published Oct 6, 2026 at 3:52 p.m. ET
NYC weighs expanding upstate reservoir following drought
The Delaware River Basin Commission is evaluating options to increase water storage, including expanding a reservoir in New York City.
By
Rosemary Misdary
News
NYC weighs expanding upstate reservoir following drought
The Delaware River Basin Commission is evaluating options to increase water storage, including expanding a reservoir in New York City.
By
Rosemary Misdary
Legionella found in Staten Island building's water system after 2 positive cases
By
Catalina Gonella
Legal 'loophole' helps NY Gov. Kathy Hochul, Bruce Blakeman raise millions
By
Jon Campbell
Police identify 2 men wanted for stabbing an off-duty NYPD officer
By
Ben Feuerherd
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .