BY LINCOLN ANDERSON | Equinox gym, at Greenwich Ave. and W. 12th St., finally took down its illegal, monster-size billboard on Monday. The signage was illegal in the Greenwich Village Historic District. And it’s not the first time the tony gym tried this: it also did it four years ago.
“After Equinox consistently ignored violations served by city agencies, following our phone campaign and petition drive urging the company to take down their illegal billboard, they agreed,” said Andrew Berman, director of the Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation. “I am thrilled to report that the sign was finally taken down. This is a great victory for the historic integrity of our neighborhood, and a reminder that corporations and building owners who try to subvert our city’s landmark law must and will be held accountable.”
State Senator Brad Hoylman also kept up the pressure on Equinox to pull down the illegal signage. He wrote letters to both Equinox and the Landmarks Preservation Commission, the latter calling for the stiffest penalty.
“I hope they get the maximum fine,” Hoylman said on Monday. “This is their second violation. It’s almost like the signs are the cost of doing business, which is disgusting.”
