[NYguy]

http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/...icle-1.1482340

Founders of 5Pointz file lawsuit to block demolition of grafitti mecca
Comes 1 day after owners Jerry and David Wolkoff secured City Council approval to knock down Long Island City building and build luxury apartment towers in its place.





By Clare Trapasso
October 10, 2013

The artists who turned a former water meter factory in Long Island City into an international graffiti destination are not giving up without a fight.

The founders of the 5Pointz Aerosol Art Center filed a lawsuit to prevent developers from tearing down the building to put up a pair of luxury towers in its stead.

“We know it’s gonna be a long road, but we are hopeful,” said Marie Flageul, a spokeswoman for 5Pointz.

The suit seeking a temporary restraining order comes a day after the City Council approved developer G & M Realty’s plans to build the 41- and 47-towers larger than the zoning currently allows

“I’m sure they just want to keep the building there — which is not going to happen,” said David Wolkoff, who owns the property with his father Jerry Wolkoff. “After close to two decades of allowing them to do their work freely, it’s a shame ... that they won’t allow us to do our work freely.”

The Wolkoffs made a series of concessions that helped them secure city approval: They upped the number of affordable units and space to be set aside for artists, and promised to allow grafitti artists to decorate panels outside the new buildings.

The building, which the Wolkoffs allowed to legally be covered with graffiti murals for over a decade, is believed to house what could be the world’s largest collection of street art, which will be lost when the building is demolished by the end of the year.

““We owe it to the artists,” said Flageul. “5Pointz is by the people, for the people.”

It's too bad that these people don't realize that with their actions, no property owner in the future is going to all such a thing to happen again. They've worn out their welcome, and then some.