The Zoning Board of Appeals decided yesterday it still doesn't have enough information to make a decision on a request from the owners of RiverWorks on Ganson Street to put an enormous video screen on the old GLF elevator, facing across the Buffalo River.
The owners say the building has no value for anything else because it is in such bad shape, despite a storied history on the Waterfront.
"There are more widow-makers on this property than I can shake a stick at and that we're addressing, one at a time," said RiverWorks owner and Chief Operating Officer Earl Ketry.
Several speakers offered a variety of views.
"I believe that water is a shared resource and citizens deserve to kayak the river and enjoy it, without having large advertising for personal injury attorneys and anything else along with Labatt's," said Patrick Mcnichol as he addressed the board.
"There's something that should be off-limits and our Waterfront is one of them. When I visit Times Square, I enjoy it. It's a great place in Midtown Manhattan. Ganson Street is not Midtown Manhattan."
Several speakers questioned the effect of a very large and very bright sign on two new apartment buildings being built across the river from the proposed site. The developers are split, with William Paladino saying he's in favor of the sign and Sam Savarino saying he's opposed.
"I recognize the opportunities and the value as a public resource and the beauty of our Waterfront, including the Buffalo River," said another speaker, Broady Richardson.
"And, to almost immediately move in the direction of turning this into a kind of cheap and tawdry commercial zone, I think, would be a grievous error."
The Zoning Board of Appeals instructed RiverWorks to return later with more information.
