11 Small win for 5Pointz BY ANGY ALTAMIRANO Artists and supporters of 5Pointz have won a small victory with a Community Board 2 (CB 2) vote against the owner’s special permit application to develop the graffiti mecca into two high-rise apartment buildings. The Wolkoff family, which has owned 5Pointz for decades, plans to demolish the graffiti-covered warehouses on Jackson Avenue and Davis Street and begin construction on apartment towers by the end of the year. Although the community board voted unanimously against the special permit on June 6, members warned that their vote was merely advisory. That means the decision only applies to the developer’s application to build the proposed building to larger dimensions than allowed by current zoning rules. The vote does not stop the demolition of 5Pointz. “As a matter of right, they can tear down that community news OWNER SAYS ‘WE’LL BUILD THE BUILDING WE WANT’ building and build something,” said Stephen Cooper, co-chair of CB 2’s land use committee. “If you want to stop that, you have to go and get it either landmarked or have it historically designated or have the art commission designate it. You’re going to have to go way beyond this room to do that, and I encourage you, if that’s what you want.” Plans for the buildings — one reaching 47 stories and the other 41 stories — include close to 1,000 rental apartments, 30,000 square feet of outdoor public space and 50,000 square feet of retail space between them. After listening to supporters during the board meeting’s public comment session — with one breaking out in rap and another in tears — CB2 made the decision. The board called the proposed project excessive, saying it “fails to address the impact on the community.” On behalf of the board, Cooper said for such a large project to be considered, the developer must provide benefits for the community in return. He added these could include improvements to local mass transit, a percentage of the units in the buildings being designated as affordable housing, partnership with local art organizations and a fund for local community groups. After hearing the board’s decision, David Wolkoff said he will keep moving forward. “It’s disappointing, but it’s a democratic process,” he said. “I’m confident we’ll build the building we want.” Although construction of the buildings is still scheduled for 2014, Wolkoff plans to continue listening to considerations and ideas from the community that his family has been a part of for the past 40 years. “I — we — will listen to all of them,” said Wolkoff. “We have always taken into consideration what the community wants.”
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