*927The board had no power to grant the application. Admittedly the petitioner could not show facts warranting the conclusion that a variance was required because of practical difficulties or unnecessary hardship. (Village Law, § 179-b; Matter of Otto v. Steinhilber, 282 N.Y. 71" court="NY" date_filed="1939-12-28" href="https://app.midpage.ai/document/matter-of-otto-v-steinhilber-3582058?utm_source=webapp" opinion_id="3582058">282 N. Y. 71, 76.) Acquirement of the plot in the public interest cannot be deemed a substitute for the statutory prerequisite to a variance. (Matter of New York & Richmond Gas Co. v. Connell, 242 A.D. 691" court="N.Y. App. Div." date_filed="1934-07-15" href="https://app.midpage.ai/document/new-york--richmond-gas-co-v-connell-5336222?utm_source=webapp" opinion_id="5336222">242 App. Div. 691; Matter of Hickox v. Griffin, 298 N.Y. 365" court="NY" date_filed="1949-01-13" href="https://app.midpage.ai/document/matter-of-hickox-v-griffin-3623436?utm_source=webapp" opinion_id="3623436">298 N. Y. 365, 370, 371.) Present — Nolan, P. J., Carswell, Johnston, Adel and Schmidt, JJ. [See post, p. 1023.]