Residents Still Roiling Over New 9/11 Sign by Laura Modigliani Despite a warning from the Landmarks Preservation Commission and the vitriol of neighbors, an acrylic mural remained on the sidewall of 17 Leonard Street late last month. The sign, bright yellow with black flames depicted alongside the words “CAUTION Low Flying Planes,” is the work of artist James Peterson. No sooner had it gone up on May 10 than neighbors became enraged by the reminder of the terrorist attack, when the first hijacked plane flew low over their homes on its collision course with the Trade Center’s north tower. “It’s a subject that’s so raw for most of us in the community,” said Mark Obenhaus, a Franklin Street resident who sees the mural from his apartment. “It doesn’t take into account that many people might not wish to look at it.” “I don’t need a constant reminder of the tragedy of Sept 11 and I certainly don’t think that our children, who pass by it, need it,” said Susan Barrie, the mother of a seven year old, who lives at 100 Hudson St. There are some, however, who support the artist. “It’s a matter of free speech. It’s thought provoking and makes you remember what happened down here. That’s what art is for. It serves a purpose,” said Merri Milwe, a Hudson Street resident. “I’d rather see a sign like that than American flags everywhere.” Kris Brown, a 35-year-old lawyer and resident of 10 Leonard St., said that he was suspicious when he saw scaffolding at 17 Leonard the evening of Friday, May 9. The next morning, the day of the Tribeca Family Festival, the painting was completed and the scaffolding was gone. “It just appeared overnight,” said Brown, who deemed the work inappropriate. Because the building lies within the Tribeca West Historic District, any visible alteration needs approval from the Landmarks Preservation Commission. On May 13 the building owner was given 20 business days to take it down or apply to the commission to keep it up. Peterson, who calls his piece Caution: 2003, said in a written statement that the sign, among other things, recalls the minutes between the attack of the first plane and the second,“those moments that were not yet codified or memorialized, those feelings conflicted and confusing, the fear and rage not yet blunted by time…” Peterson did not return calls seeking additional comment. The building is occupied by Christopher Roilph, a resident since 1998, who said, “I live on the top floor, my [two] kids live on the floor below that, and my cars live on the ground floor.” Roilph’s contracting business, Tribeca Restoration, is also in the building. He said he first met the artist soon after the mural went up and he slipped a note about the sign under his door. “Originally I thought it was low humor until I talked to [Peterson]. Then I had a different feeling about it. I got the point.” It is unclear how Peterson got access to the building. Roilph said the owner is Robie Borman. who lives in California. He said he believes Borman will call the mural graffiti and deny responsibility for taking it down. Besides, he noted with a smile, “It cannot really be taken down, just covered up.”