BUFFALO, N.Y. (WKBW) — Josh Allen will not be evicted from Niagara Square anytime soon.
A billboard that features the face of the Buffalo Bills quarterback was hung on the south side of the Statler in September.
In the short time it has been up, the billboard has become a "can't-miss" attraction for Bills fans and speaks to the true super-stardom the Bills quarterback.
Douglas Development told 7 News Anchor Jeff Russo on Wednesday that the Buffalo Zoning Board has unanimously approved a six-month extension for the banner.
"We couldn't be more excited," Millstein told Russo. "This banner of Josh represents the spirit of Buffalo, the underdog rising to the top that everyone aspires to be."
According to Douglas Development, although the city has approved the billboard for another six months, the initial commitment from the advertiser was for 30 days. Douglas Development remains hopeful that that commitment will be extended for the remainder of the season.
"The six, seven-year-old kid that is me is going crazy right now because it's such an honor," Allen said when asked about the billboard.
Paul Millstein, vice president and head of development for Douglas Development said Douglas Development submitted all the necessary paperwork and applied for a permit with the city in August.
"It was done with an engineer's support, it was inspected by a structural engineer, everything is perfect," Millstein told 7 News in September. "We consulted with our preservation consultant to make sure we didn't do anything wrong on the facade, which we didn't. We did apply for everything in August. There wasn't a hearing in August. The city didn't offer one. They were on recess."
"This is part of an add campaign. And there was a window of opportunity for their contract," explained Cathy Amdur, the City of Buffalo's Commissioner of Permits and Inspection.
Amdur said Douglas Development did put together all the proper documents but couldn't get the permit in time.
"So in order to install the temporary sign they needed that zoning variance, the timing wouldn't have worked out and they would have lost the contract. They submitted their application, they had submitted their engineered plans, they were very open with us that they wanted to do it," said Amdur.
According to Amdur, anytime someone goes ahead without a required permit there is an order to remedy and that's the case in this situation.
"We're following our normal processes and procedures and they're working with us to make it all right," she said in mid September. "We're all Bills fans here, just as a citizen I love it and the owner is working to get compliant with all the rules associated with it and make things right."
