The small victories keep coming for 5Pointz.
Judge Frederick Block of the Brooklyn Federal Court granted Jonathan Cohen, curator at 5Pointz for the past 11 years, and a group of 16 other aerosol artists an extension to their initial 10 day restraining order on Monday, more than a week after they appeared before the court looking to file a lawsuit in an effort to stop the demolition of the graffiti mecca, according to Jeannine Chanes, a lawyer for a group of 5Pointz artists.
A hearing for preliminary injunction is now scheduled for November 6 in which the court will review the case, said Chanes. This also means that the restraining order has been stretched until 5 p.m. on November 12.
The restraining order means the Wolkoff family, owners of the property on Jackson Avenue and Davis Street, and developer G&M Realty cannot do anything demolition related to the property. The artists will also not be allowed to put any new art up during this time.
“We’re thrilled,” said Chanes. “It’s a really positive sign.”
The developers hope to build two apartment towers – one 47 stories and the other 41 stories tall – with close to 1,000 rental apartments, 32,000 square feet of outdoor public space and 50,000 square feet of retail space between them.
However according to Chanes, one of the biggest concerns is the fact that the artists working spaces are expected to be in the second tower, which developers have said would only be built if there is demand.
Developers agreed with the City Council to build and staff the two buildings with 100 percent union workers, bringing more than 1,000 jobs to Long Island City, and also increase the number of affordable ho using units from 75 to 210.
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