By Joshua Maloni

GM/Managing Editor

New Frontier House pay-for-parking signs won't be installed for at least another month, as the Village of Lewiston Zoning Board of Appeals tabled a motion Tuesday requesting placement of between five and eight markers at the historic Center Street site.

The ZBA has requested legal counsel in ascertaining whether or not it can place a time limit on a sign variance.

Board member James Spanbauer suggested approving the proposed sign package for a period of time, and then reevaluating the look and placement of the placards.

“So, they have to reapply after six months,” he said. “What happens is, after they get through the busy season this summer, we see what it looks like – if we think it was not, aesthetically, what we wanted.”

Frontier House landlord Ellicott Development tasked Premium Parking with installing freestanding, non-illuminated markers intended to inform the public that payment is required, and provide motorists with a method to pay by mobile device.

The applicant requested eight signs – two on three poles, and two at the parking lot entrances – at a size of 4 square feet. Village law states such markers should be a maximum of 2 square feet, thus creating a need for a variance.

Another of the originally proposed signs for the Frontier House parking lot.

••••••••

Erik Reed, representing Premium Parking, said his company’s standard-size sign is 4-square-feet – or larger – and typically red and white, so as to be more visible. He suggested three of the proposed signs – those indicating parking can be validated for tenant patrons – could be removed, lowering the total number of signs to five.

As for size, “The smaller you get … they become less and less noticeable,” Reed said.

At Tuesday’s meeting, board members Michael Swanson (chair), Spanbauer, Bart Klettke and Abigail Stein also wrestled with whether or not parking signs should count against a business’ permitted display total, and what would happen if the applicant did have signs that met the municipal code’s size standards – could there be many more than eight signs?

A look inside the Fairbanks, including an opening celebration with members of the Historical Association of Lewiston.

••••••••

Fairbanks hits pause

Making matters murkier: The Frontier House’s street-level tenant, Fairbanks, announced a hiatus on Monday. In a social media post, restaurant management shared:

“I'm sure no one finds it a surprise that the past year has been incredibly difficult for restaurants of every kind. When we first embarked on this project, it was 2023. The landscape of the industry was completely different and our goals were lofty to say the least.

“After nearly 2 years of construction, numerous setbacks and many unforeseen obstacles, we were thrilled to open our doors in July 2025. But what we need to do now in order to see this restaurant continue on is to put a pause on operations. Effective immediately, Fairbanks will be taking a hiatus to reevaluate and hopefully come back stronger than ever.

“We sincerely thank everyone for the tremendous support we've experienced over the past nine months. We can say wholeheartedly, it is our goal to reopen those doors and continue serving you the best way we know possible.

“All chefs counter reservations, or private events will be contacted individually to provide options or arrangements. All gift cards will be honored at Billy Club or upon our reopening.”

Billy Club is the downtown Buffalo restaurant run by Fairbanks operators Daniel Hagen and Jake Strawser.

On Wednesday, Strawser added, “The most important thing is we want to thank our staff for all their hard work, and to thank the public for the generous outpouring of support we’ve received since our announcement. We hope to come back both stronger and better than ever.”

Fairbanks restaurant is hitting pause, as owners reassess their Lewiston business.

••••••••

The Frontier House was closed to the public from December 2004 until Fairbanks opened in summer 2025.

Lewiston’s historic crown jewel, at 460 Center St., also offers short-term and rental units on the second, third and fourth floors.

In light of this decision, the ZBA pondered modifying a portion of the sign request to state parking could be validated for Frontier House patrons, and not specifically for a named tenant – be it Fairbanks or something else.

Reed agreed that was the best course of action.

More of the originally proposed signs for the Frontier House parking lot.

••••••••

More on the signs

Each of the eight proposed signs would be located at least 10 feet within the property line.

Reed said Frontier House tenant employees and renters are “white listed,” and their license plates are marked as permitted to be in the parking lot without payment.

Two village residents spoke at the ZBA meeting: Lee Simonson, representing the village’s De-Sign Committee; and Historic Preservation Board Chairwoman Loretta Frankovitch.

Simonson said his board needed more time to review the sign proposal, but noted eight signs is excessive.

Frankovitch asked the ZBA to deny the variance request as the size of the signs “contrasts very sharply with what (New York State Historic Preservation Office) guidelines have directed (Ellicott Development) to do for the property. They followed everything they had to do according to the state Historic Preservation Office. They followed all those particular guidelines, and they really did a nice job on the reconstruction and the rehabilitation of the building itself.

"But the site is historically designated. It's not just the building; it's the entire site. To put signs on it that kind of go against what they've been trying to achieve with the rehabilitation of the building is kind of antithetical.”

She added, “if you grant a variance, it's for perpetuity. It's something that's going to stay with that building forever. And because it's a historic structure, I don't want to set a precedent for historic properties having signs that really are not within our code.”

The village’s Historic Preservation Board approved the sign package at its March 9 meeting, granting a certificate of appropriateness (Frankovitch was excused from that session). The Planning Commission also offered approval, but contingent upon the ZBA OK'ing the larger sign size.

Premium Parking originally installed a series of pay-for-parking signs in and ahead of the Frontier House parking lot on Jan. 8.

Those markers – some red and white, others red, yellow and white, or yellow, white and black; with text noting rates start at $1; a QR code to pay; and a “Photo enforced 24/7” message – were promptly removed the next day after Ellicott Development was reminded sign placement requires Village of Lewiston approval. Pay-for-parking signs are permitted in the lot, but the size and design must meet village code.

At the Feb. 9 HPC meeting, Premium Parking Regional Vice President (Great Lakes) Patrick Phillips said, “I want to apologize that the signs went up before (approval). We had signals crossed with the landlord. We took them down right away, once we knew that we messed up the process.”

A new proposal was presented to the Village of Lewiston about two weeks later, asking for more than a dozen signs – and the same color pattern. Following discussions with the HPC and Planning Board, a new plan – submitted March 3 – called for less signs, and a black-and-white design.

More of the originally proposed signs for the Frontier House parking lot.

See also >> Company installing Frontier House pay-parking signs vows to work with village

See also >> Village of Lewiston requests new Frontier House pay parking signs be removed