5Pointz Defenders Now Urging LPC to Designate Building [Updated]
By Billy Gray November 19, 2013 7:45 am
reprintsTenacious opponents of graffiti shrine 5Pointz‘ planned demolition have resorted to yet another life-extending tactic in the wake of a courtroom defeat last week.
Aerosol artists and their fans held a raucous party at the Long Island City institution over the weekend and said that they would resubmit a proposal to the Landmarks Preservation Commission that would protect the building. Last week, a Brooklyn judge lifted a temporary order that stayed developer G&M Realty‘s demolition of the property and construction of two high rise residential towers on its site.
![5pointz1 5Pointz Defenders Now Urging LPC to Designate Building [Updated]](http://observer-media.go-vip.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2013/11/5pointz1.jpg "5Pointz Defenders Now Urging LPC to Designate Building [Updated]")
“It took seven applications for Grand Central to be considered,” one person told NY1. “So we only submitted once. We’re submitting a second time.”
The City Council approved G&M’s plans for the apartment buildings on October 10. G&M owners David and Jerry Wolkoff had planned to start demolishing 5Pointz by the end of the year. Last month,sixteen artists filed a lawsuit against G&M on the legal basis of the Visual Artists Right Act. Judge Frederick Block issued two consecutive restraining orders totaling 24 days against demolition. The Wolkoff’s development would include 1,000 luxury units between the 41- and 47-story towers.
Update: Early this morning, workers whitewashed the majority of graffiti covering 5Pointz. Jerry Wolkoff told the Wall Street Journal he hired more than a dozen workers to paint the building between 3 am and 7 am. “This is why I did it: it was torture for them and for me,” he told the Journal. “They couldn’t paint anymore and they loved to paint. Let me just get it over with and as I knock it down they’re not watching their piece of art going down. The milk spilled. It’s over. They don’t have to cry.”
