Demolition of Graffiti Mecca 5Pointz Will Start in August

Graffiti mecca 5Pointz will meet it's fate this summer.

Image via Complex / Liz Barclay

Almost a year after the decision was made to bring down New York's 5Pointz and make way for high rise apartments, the iconic graffiti spot in Long Island City, Queens will meet its fate. The owner of the 5Pointz building, Jerry Wolkoff, told DNA Info he plans to start demolition in mid-August.

Last August, the New York City Planning Commission voted unanimously to allow Jerry and his brother David Wolkoff to build condos on the site. Despite attempts from the graffiti community and beyond to save the cultural space, the Wolkoffs began the painful process of erasing 5Pointz from the urban landscape. In November, they hired workers to whitewash the building in the middle of the night, buffing the tags and throw-ups without interference from 5Pointz supporters. This sparked a major backlash online.

Now the ghost of what was once a temple of graffiti will finally be razed. Although Jerry has not acquired demolition permits yet, he hopes the dirty job will be over next month. "It cannot be soon enough for me," he said. "People are going to be amazed when it opens up."

The Wolkoffs' new development plan includes space for artists' studios, galleries, and walls for street art. "I'm going to bring the artists back," Jerry claims. "They'll have walls, they'll have a place for years and years to express themselves." For those who are still mourning the loss of 5Pointz however, this will pale in comparison to the former graffiti mecca.

[via DNA Info]

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