165POINTZ Days after supporters rallied at the Long Island City graffi ti mecca to save it, a paint crew washed away hundreds of pieces of aerosol art with white paint. Jerry Wolkoff, who owns the property on Jackson Avenue and Davis Street, ordered the overnight painting, according to 5Pointz attorney Jeannine Chanes and 5Pointz spokesperson Marie Cecile Flageul. “I know it’s real but I can’t believe it. Wolkoff disrespected thousands of artists overnight,” Flageul said, holding back tears. “It’s crazy when you think about it because we’re supposed to be the vandals. He’s the vandal.” According to Flageul, the paint crew arrived at the site with police protection around 1 a.m. on November 19 and fi nished painting the building around 7 a.m. She received a call about the painting at 6 a.m. and shortly rushed to the site with 5Pointz curator Jonathan Cohen. Witnessing painters still covering the walls, the two tried to enter the building’s loading dock, she said, but were stopped and asked for identifi cation. “I’m disgusted,” said Cohen, who now plans on moving out of Long Island City. “Jerry, congratulations. Enjoy your moment and realize long after you’re gone, your son will live on with this legacy, and his son will live on with that legacy, and no one is going to talk to you about anything you built real estate-wise. But Both Flageul and Cohen said they saw no safety workers or caution tape and an online search found no Department of Buildings permit. As news of the painting broke, fans and artists were left in shock after thousands fi lled out forms to request 5Pointz be landmarked at a peaceful gathering on November 16. “It’s shameful. This is culture, New York is the birth place of hip hop and graffiti,” said Long Island City resident Juan Sierra, 35. “This is what happens when you just don’t care.” Eariler in November, a Brooklyn judge ruled against a request for a preliminary injunction, seeking to protect the different aerosol pieces found around 5Pointz. The judge also lifted a temporary restraining order, allowing the owners of the property and developer G&M Realty to continue with any pre-demolition activities at the site. Developers and owners hope to build two apartment towers, each exceeding 40 feet, with close to 1,000 rental apartments, 32,000 square feet of outdoor public space and 50,000 square feet of retail space. Later at night on November 19, artists, community members and supporters gathered on the 5Pointz loading dock for a vigil, lighting candles, hanging artwork on canvases and signing pieces of paper taped to the walls. they’ll remember you for this.” Stefanie Nava of Long Island City lit a candle Photos by Angy Altamirano 5Pointz curator Jonathan Cohen speaks to supporters who gathered for a rally on November 16 to save the graffi ti mecca.
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