The owner of the former landmark for graffiti artists known as “5Pointz” white washed the building Monday night, marking what could be the last chapter in the battle over the Long Island City site. NY1′s Jon Weinstein filed the following report.
The emotions were raw and visibly on display Tuesday. The white walls were a stark contrast to the vibrant colors that once filled “5Pointz.” Starting Monday afternoon, the owners of the building painted over the murals that once made this a mecca for graffiti artists.
“I turned around and I saw this and I can’t understand how you can erase 12 years of spectacular art,” said Hans Von Rittern, a tour guide.
“It’s like kindergarten when you think about it and he did this all overnight,” said one Long Island City resident.
The sudden development left the artists who painted in the spot for years distraught.
“It’s funny because ’5Pointz’ we’re supposed to be the vandals but he just robbed and disrespected over a thousand artists,” said Marie Flageul, a local artist.
After years of debate, months of legal wrangling and a recent court ruling in their favor, the developers Jerry and David Wolkoff are now moving forward with their plans to develop the site into a residential development.
The approved plan includes two rental towers and a park.
They say they chose the white paint so the artists wouldn’t have to see their worked knocked down. But the artists say they had also been trying to have their work landmarked through the city to save it.
“I’ve been learning a lot in this whole battle that things happen very mysteriously and funny. It’s no different in this, so I guess I have a little less faith in the system,” said “5Pointz” Curator “Meres”.
As part of the deal with the City Council the developers set aside 12,000 square feet of space in the new building for art. The developers say they love the art and will welcome them back with open arms, though artists who spoke with NY1 did not seem interested in that.
“There is not one artist I can guarantee you there’s not going to be one artist that will ever work for this man…ever,” Flaguel said.
The city’s Department of Buildings says the developers did not need a permit to paint the building.
The artists say they will continue to fight but with legal options dwindling, the developers say they’ll start their project in the next few months and hope to have their first residential tower open in 2015 or 2016.
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via Great Local News: New York http://newyork.greatlocalnews.info
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