An iconic hub of graffiti art in Long Island City may soon be razed for luxury high rises, but one elected official believes it is far too early for panic.
5Pointz, the graffiti mecca on L.I.C.’s Jackson Avenue, is the latest target for developers in the western Queens neighborhood – as building owner Jerry Wolkoff expressed interest in redeveloping the land and building two 40-story condos in its place.
An outcry from artists and other L.I.C. denizens would suggest that demolition is imminent, but City Councilmember Jimmy Van Bramer believes that it is far too early in the process for anyone to push the panic button.
“There are so many steps that need to be taken still to even approach this,” said the councilmember. “I’ve gotten many emails from people wanting to save 5Pointz, but from what I understand it is still very early in the process.”
However, others in the neighborhood don’t share the councilmember’s calm. Eric Benaim, president of Modern Spaces in L.I.C., said that he would like to see the building stay – as it has become a landmark in the eyes of residents.
“It would be sad to see the building go,” said Benaim. “If you were to incorporate the art to the new building and maybe build lofts, that would be better. Perhaps they could leave the first three to four stories with a graffiti façade.”
David Dynack, a real estate broker with Right Time Realty in L.I.C., was more pointed in his criticism of the plan.
“5Pointz always represented everything anti-condo and anti-establishment, so knocking it down for a residential building is just a horrible idea,” he said. “Maybe instead of condos, they could build artist lofts, commercial art condos or an art institution or a school. How cool would it be to have an art themed school across from P.S. 1?”
Wolkoff is set to meet with representatives from the Department of City Planning in the coming weeks, after which he will submit an official proposal.
According to published reports, Wolkoff has said that people in the community have complained that the building is an eyesore and that he should take it down. If that were to happen, Wolkoff has promised to let graffiti artists decorate a large concrete wall that would be built to separate the new buildings from the Long Island Railroad station.
The graffiti art that colors the building’s façade isn’t for everyone, but it has become synonymous with the area – and that is something that Van Bramer truly respects.
“It’s become a focal point and a bit of a tourist attraction. It’s certainly iconic in its own way,” he said. “While I don’t pretend to be a fan of graffiti, I can respect that, for many, it is unique when a building becomes a form of public art.”
