By Bill Parry
In an ongoing battle against graffiti, City Councilman Costa Constantinides (D-Astoria) enlisted the help of a non-profit arts group from Auburndale. 501 See Streets has painted murals of bygone eras in Astoria’s history at the Amtrak underpass at 48th Street between 25th and 28th avenues.
“He suggested the walls because residents frequently complained about it constantly being tagged,” the group’s founder, Noah Sheroff, said. “Murals tend to discourage graffiti and there’s evidence that shows it’s beneficial for residential neighborhoods because it creates a positive vibe.”
Sheroff and artist Kenji Takabayashi used old photographs of a steamboat sailing past the Hellgate Bridge, a street scene from the 1930s and the Jackson Hole Diner in East Elmhurst.
“It was great seeing 501 See Streets beautifying our neighborhood,” Constantinides said. “This mural will leave a long-lasting and colorful piece of art in a residential neighborhood.”
— Bill Parry
