Office of Borough President James P. Molinaro

Staten Island, New York

Damaged billboard in St. George: is it legal or not? B.P. Molinaro asks Buildings Department for determination

500-square-foot ripped billboard hangs over 30 Bay Street

      STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.-- Borough President James P. Molinaro today asked the New York City Buildings Department to determine whether a huge billboard on top of 30 Bay Street is legal or illegal. The 500-square-foot sign has been left in a ripped and hanging condition, creating a visible eyesore for thousands of commuters and tourists as they arrive in St. George on the Staten Island Ferry.     

      “It’s a concern that this enormous sign has been in violation of local zoning regulations as far back as 1990,” said Molinaro. “In 2003, complaints were filed with the Buildings Department, which stated, oddly enough, that the billboard was in a ripped and damaged state, with fears that the sign would become loose and fall to the ground.      

      “What makes this whole incident even more of an insult to all Staten Islanders is that the penalty imposed in 2003 was only $800 for a 500-square-foot sign and it appears that the violation is still unresolved,” Molinaro added.     

      “I am requesting that the Buildings Department investigate this ongoing problem,” said Molinaro. “If it’s an illegal billboard, it should be torn down. If it is legal, it should be properly maintained. The skyline of St. George, the gateway to Staten Island, is not for sale.”

February 19, 2009