Binghamton Panel Debates Sign Planned for New Downtown Restaurant

A Binghamton developer's proposal for a backlit sign at a restaurant he's preparing to open has yet to receive city approval.

Mark Yonaty has been working to remodel a section of the historic Lackawanna Train Station on Lewis Street. The planned restaurant will be called Station 45 American Chop House.

The city Commission on Architecture and Urban Design on Tuesday delayed acting on issuing a "certificate of appropriateness" for a sign that's been made for the business.

While members of the panel said they like the sign, they expressed concern that approving it could set a precedent for other proposals in historic districts.

Yonaty said the sign would have white backlighting to illuminate the letters in the restaurant's name.

The developer said "a lot of effort" was spent in designing and producing the sign for the business.

Commission members discussed steps that could be taken to authorize the sign for Yonaty in a way that would not require all future requests for backlit signs to be approved.

The measure was tabled to enable the commission to seek guidance from city attorneys on the matter.

After the meeting, Yonaty said "I'm frustrated." He noted no one had complained about the actual sign planned for the restaurant.

Remodeling work inside the west end of the train station is expected to be completed by the end of the year. Yonaty has not set a specific target date for the restaurant's opening.

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Contact WNBF News reporter Bob Joseph: bob@wnbf.com or (607) 545-2250. For breaking news and updates on developing stories, follow @BinghamtonNow on Twitter.