Nov 19, 2013

5 Pointz repainted and erased overnight in Queens, New York

Kalani Gordon 0 Comment Art, Entertainment, Nation, Travel 5 Pointz, art, graffiti, New York, Queens

Queens’ graffiti space is no more. The series of properties that served as a renowned haven for artists was painted over early Tuesday morning.

: In this before-and-after photo compilation, a piece of street art is seen at the historic graffiti mecca 5 Pointz on August 9, 2013 (bottom), and again, after being painted over by developers in the dead of night on November 19, 2013 in the Long Island City neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. Artists and representatives of 5 Pointz have been in a brutal battle to save the building, which the owner, Jerry Wolkoff, wants to knock down in order to develop high rise apartment buildings. The artists have argued that the building should be saved by the city as a historic landmark, though in the early morning hours of November 19, 2013 the owners hired workers to paint over a majority of the paintings. (Andrew Burton/Getty Images)

: In this before-and-after photo compilation, a piece of street art is seen at the historic graffiti mecca 5 Pointz on August 9, 2013 (bottom), and again, after being painted over by developers in the dead of night on November 19, 2013 in the Long Island City neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. Artists and representatives of 5 Pointz have been in a brutal battle to save the building, which the owner, Jerry Wolkoff, wants to knock down in order to develop high rise apartment buildings. The artists have argued that the building should be saved by the city as a historic landmark, though in the early morning hours of November 19, 2013 the owners hired workers to paint over a majority of the paintings. (Andrew Burton/Getty Images)

: In this before-and-after photo compilation, a piece of street art is seen at the historic graffiti mecca 5 Pointz on August 9, 2013 (bottom), and again, after being painted over by developers in the dead of night on November 19, 2013 in the Long Island City neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. Artists and representatives of 5 Pointz have been in a brutal battle to save the building, which the owner, Jerry Wolkoff, wants to knock down in order to develop high rise apartment buildings. The artists have argued that the building should be saved by the city as a historic landmark, though in the early morning hours of November 19, 2013 the owners hired workers to paint over a majority of the paintings. (Andrew Burton/Getty Images)

: In this before-and-after photo compilation, a piece of street art is seen at the historic graffiti mecca 5 Pointz on August 9, 2013 (bottom), and again, after being painted over by developers in the dead of night on November 19, 2013 in the Long Island City neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. Artists and representatives of 5 Pointz have been in a brutal battle to save the building, which the owner, Jerry Wolkoff, wants to knock down in order to develop high rise apartment buildings. The artists have argued that the building should be saved by the city as a historic landmark, though in the early morning hours of November 19, 2013 the owners hired workers to paint over a majority of the paintings. (Andrew Burton/Getty Images)

: In this before-and-after photo compilation, the historic graffiti mecca 5 Pointz is seen on August 9, 2013 (bottom), and again, after being painted over by developers in the dead of night on November 19, 2013 in the Long Island City neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. Artists and representatives of 5 Pointz have been in a brutal battle to save the building, which the owner, Jerry Wolkoff, wants to knock down in order to develop high rise apartment buildings. The artists have argued that the building should be saved by the city as a historic landmark, though in the early morning hours of November 19, 2013 the owners hired workers to paint over a majority of the paintings. (Andrew Burton/Getty Images)

: In this before-and-after photo compilation, a piece of street art is seen at the historic graffiti mecca 5 Pointz on August 9, 2013 (bottom), and again, after being painted over by developers in the dead of night on November 19, 2013 in the Long Island City neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. Artists and representatives of 5 Pointz have been in a brutal battle to save the building, which the owner, Jerry Wolkoff, wants to knock down in order to develop high rise apartment buildings. The artists have argued that the building should be saved by the city as a historic landmark, though in the early morning hours of November 19, 2013 the owners hired workers to paint over a majority of the paintings. (Andrew Burton/Getty Images)

: In this before-and-after photo compilation, the historic graffiti mecca 5 Pointz is seen on August 9, 2013 (bottom), and again, after being painted over by developers in the dead of night on November 19, 2013 in the Long Island City neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. Artists and representatives of 5 Pointz have been in a brutal battle to save the building, which the owner, Jerry Wolkoff, wants to knock down in order to develop high rise apartment buildings. The artists have argued that the building should be saved by the city as a historic landmark, though in the early morning hours of November 19, 2013 the owners hired workers to paint over a majority of the paintings. (Andrew Burton/Getty Images)

: In this before-and-after photo compilation, the historic graffiti mecca 5 Pointz is seen on August 9, 2013 (bottom), and again, after being painted over by developers in the dead of night on November 19, 2013 in the Long Island City neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. Artists and representatives of 5 Pointz have been in a brutal battle to save the building, which the owner, Jerry Wolkoff, wants to knock down in order to develop high rise apartment buildings. The artists have argued that the building should be saved by the city as a historic landmark, though in the early morning hours of November 19, 2013 the owners hired workers to paint over a majority of the paintings. (Andrew Burton/Getty Images)

: In this before-and-after photo compilation, street art is seen at the historic graffiti mecca 5 Pointz on August 9, 2013 (bottom), and again, after being painted over by developers in the dead of night on November 19, 2013 in the Long Island City neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. Artists and representatives of 5 Pointz have been in a brutal battle to save the building, which the owner, Jerry Wolkoff, wants to knock down in order to develop high rise apartment buildings. The artists have argued that the building should be saved by the city as a historic landmark, though in the early morning hours of November 19, 2013 the owners hired workers to paint over a majority of the paintings. (Andrew Burton/Getty Images)

: In this before-and-after photo compilation, the historic graffiti mecca 5 Pointz is seen on August 9, 2013 (bottom), and again, after being painted over by developers in the dead of night on November 19, 2013 in the Long Island City neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. Artists and representatives of 5 Pointz have been in a brutal battle to save the building, which the owner, Jerry Wolkoff, wants to knock down in order to develop high rise apartment buildings. The artists have argued that the building should be saved by the city as a historic landmark, though in the early morning hours of November 19, 2013 the owners hired workers to paint over a majority of the paintings. (Andrew Burton/Getty Images)

: In this before-and-after photo compilation, the historic graffiti mecca 5 Pointz is seen on August 9, 2013 (bottom), and again, after being painted over by developers in the dead of night on November 19, 2013 in the Long Island City neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. Artists and representatives of 5 Pointz have been in a brutal battle to save the building, which the owner, Jerry Wolkoff, wants to knock down in order to develop high rise apartment buildings. The artists have argued that the building should be saved by the city as a historic landmark, though in the early morning hours of November 19, 2013 the owners hired workers to paint over a majority of the paintings. (Andrew Burton/Getty Images)

: Empty paint buckets sit in a dumpster after being used to paint over street art at the historic graffiti mecca 5 Pointz by developers in the dead of night on November 19, 2013 in the Long Island City neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. Artists and representatives of 5 Pointz have been in a brutal battle to save the building, which the owner, Jerry Wolkoff, wants to knock down in order to develop high rise apartment buildings. The artists have argued that the building should be saved by the city as a historic landmark, though in the early morning hours of November 19, 2013 the owners hired workers to paint over a majority of the paintings. (Andrew Burton/Getty Images)

: A graffiti painted car is parked in front of the 5 Pointz Building, a landmark in the New York graffiti scene that has attracted artists from around the globe, on October 28, 2013 in the Long Island City neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. The artists that have been using 5 Pointz to paint for the past two decades are currently in a battle with the building’s owners, who want to tear the building down to build apartment high rises worth $400 million. The 5 Pointz artistic community have also called on street artist Banksy who is currently in the midst of a high profile “month in residence” series, creating work through out the streets of New York, to weigh in on the battle, though so far the artist has stayed silent. Meres One says he is prepared to chain himself to the building, should demolition move forward. (Andrew Burton/Getty Images)

: The 5 Pointz Building, a landmark in the New York graffiti scene that has attracted artists from around the globe, is seen on October 28, 2013 in the Long Island City neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City.(Andrew Burton/Getty Images)

: Two women take a picture outside of the 5 Pointz Building, a landmark in the New York graffiti scene that has attracted artists from around the globe, on October 28, 2013 in the Long Island City neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. (Andrew Burton/Getty Images)

: Jonathan Cohen, who goes by the street name Meres One, who is a volunteer, curator and manager of the 5 Pointz Building, the landmark of the New York graffiti scene that has attracted artists from around the globe, poses for a portrait on October 28, 2013 in the Long Island City neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. The 5 Pointz artistic community also called on street artist Banksy who is currently in the midst of a high profile “month in residence” series, creating work through out the streets of New York, to weigh in on the battle, though so far the artist has stayed silent. Meres One says he is prepared to chain himself to the building, should demolition move forward. (Andrew Burton/Getty Images)

: People explore the outside of the 5 Pointz Building, a landmark in the New York graffiti scene that has attracted artists from around the globe, on October 28, 2013 in the Long Island City neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. The artists that have been using 5 Pointz to paint for the past two decades are currently in a battle with the building’s owners, who want to tear the building down to build apartment high rises worth $400 million. The 5 Pointz artistic community have also called on street artist Banksy who is currently in the midst of a high profile “month in residence” series, creating work through out the streets of New York, to weigh in on the battle, though so far the artist has stayed silent. Meres One says he is prepared to chain himself to the building, should demolition move forward. (Andrew Burton/Getty Images)

: A woman walks past the 5 Pointz building, which was painted over by developers in the dead of night after two decades serving as the mecca for graffiti and street art on November 19, 2013 in the Long Island City neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. Artists and representatives of 5 Pointz have been in a brutal battle to save the building, which the owner, Jerry Wolkoff, wants to knock down in order to develop high rise apartment buildings. The artists have argued that the building should be saved by the city as a historic landmark, though in the early morning hours of November 19, 2013 the owners hired workers to paint over a majority of the paintings. (Andrew Burton/Getty Images)

: A man eats his lunch at the historic graffiti mecca 5 Pointz after it was painted over by developers in the dead of night on November 19, 2013 in the Long Island City neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. Artists and representatives of 5 Pointz have been in a brutal battle to save the building, which the owner, Jerry Wolkoff, wants to knock down in order to develop high rise apartment buildings. The artists have argued that the building should be saved by the city as a historic landmark, though in the early morning hours of November 19, 2013 the owners hired workers to paint over a majority of the paintings. (Andrew Burton/Getty Images)

: The historic graffiti mecca 5 Pointz is seen after being painted over by developers in the dead of night on November 19, 2013 in the Long Island City neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. Artists and representatives of 5 Pointz have been in a brutal battle to save the building, which the owner, Jerry Wolkoff, wants to knock down in order to develop high rise apartment buildings. The artists have argued that the building should be saved by the city as a historic landmark, though in the early morning hours of November 19, 2013 the owners hired workers to paint over a majority of the paintings. (Andrew Burton/Getty Images)

: The historic graffiti mecca 5 Pointz is seen after being painted over by developers in the dead of night on November 19, 2013 in the Long Island City neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. Artists and representatives of 5 Pointz have been in a brutal battle to save the building, which the owner, Jerry Wolkoff, wants to knock down in order to develop high rise apartment buildings. The artists have argued that the building should be saved by the city as a historic landmark, though in the early morning hours of November 19, 2013 the owners hired workers to paint over a majority of the paintings. (Andrew Burton/Getty Images)

: The historic graffiti mecca 5 Pointz is seen after being painted over by developers in the dead of night on November 19, 2013 in the Long Island City neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. Artists and representatives of 5 Pointz have been in a brutal battle to save the building, which the owner, Jerry Wolkoff, wants to knock down in order to develop high rise apartment buildings. The artists have argued that the building should be saved by the city as a historic landmark, though in the early morning hours of November 19, 2013 the owners hired workers to paint over a majority of the paintings. (Andrew Burton/Getty Images)

: The historic graffiti mecca 5 Pointz is seen after being painted over by developers in the dead of night on November 19, 2013 in the Long Island City neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. Artists and representatives of 5 Pointz have been in a brutal battle to save the building, which the owner, Jerry Wolkoff, wants to knock down in order to develop high rise apartment buildings. The artists have argued that the building should be saved by the city as a historic landmark, though in the early morning hours of November 19, 2013 the owners hired workers to paint over a majority of the paintings. (Andrew Burton/Getty Images)

: The historic graffiti mecca 5 Pointz is seen after being painted over by developers in the dead of night on November 19, 2013 in the Long Island City neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. Artists and representatives of 5 Pointz have been in a brutal battle to save the building, which the owner, Jerry Wolkoff, wants to knock down in order to develop high rise apartment buildings. The artists have argued that the building should be saved by the city as a historic landmark, though in the early morning hours of November 19, 2013 the owners hired workers to paint over a majority of the paintings. (Andrew Burton/Getty Images)

: The historic graffiti mecca 5 Pointz is seen after being painted over by developers in the dead of night on November 19, 2013 in the Long Island City neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. Artists and representatives of 5 Pointz have been in a brutal battle to save the building, which the owner, Jerry Wolkoff, wants to knock down in order to develop high rise apartment buildings. The artists have argued that the building should be saved by the city as a historic landmark, though in the early morning hours of November 19, 2013 the owners hired workers to paint over a majority of the paintings. (Andrew Burton/Getty Images)

The space, considered the Mecca of the graffiti world, was located Queens in New York City. Used as a space for graffiti artists since the early 1990s, the owner of the property announced in 2011 he planned to demolish the building to build high-rise residential buildings, which was approved by city council in Oct. 2013. The 5 Pointz graffiti community had since been in a battle to keep the space as is and petitioned the government to consider the space a protected cultural landmark.

5 Pointz repainted and erased overnight in Queens, New York

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