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# Before and After Photographs of 5Pointz Mural Site Show a Bleak Transformation
- URL: https://hyperallergic.com/before-and-after-photographs-of-5pointz-mural-site-show-a-bleak-transformation/
- Published: 2021-03-30T20:58:08.000Z
- Updated: 2025-11-24T16:06:02.000Z
- Description: See how a historic monument to graffiti art was unrecognizably transformed into a luxury high rise with the personality of a sad hotel lobby.
- Author: Valentina Di Liscia
- Tags: News, 5Pointz, New York, Queens, #wp, #wp-post, #image-position-hidden, #Import 2025-11-24 09:11 (2021, 2022, part 1)

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/hyperallergic-com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/8-nigel-morris.jpg)

Before: (Photo by iamNigelMorris via [Flickr](“https://secure.flickr.com/photos/34639903@N03/3423491692/in/photolist-6dwhNQ-69tF7F-hgqAvm-hgou2n-huVxmm-hgp1NV-hgoyZD-azRwKh-hhQefa-hH5f5s-huWVMt-huVgqc-huW4Tm-huW5Ch-gfiDXj-9Dw2z7-huVhdK-huVvSE-huVve5-giDscu-gbMcde-gbLCY5-epdLWP-hgsksT-hgn7JM-hgtmbq-9DdKF1-hgsPbE-hgnu5G-9Dw2SG-hgn8Yk-9Dt6KP-jyn7jm-8hu44a-9Dta1v-ifSU5K-9Dt8Fx-9DdLwQ-5e2y5k-8NATYS-h3V8Jh-azRvYo-9Dt7Nn-9DvXXS-KzBMg-9DaRHa-54Zbck-9DvXwY-9Dt4KB-9DvYbA”)) / After: (photo by Valentina Di Liscia/Hyperallergic)

Photographs of the recently completed luxury development at the former site of the [5Pointz graffiti murals](https://hyperallergic.com/214616/graffiti-artists-sue-5pointz-developer-for-whitewashing-their-murals/) in Long Island City, Queens, show how a local monument to graffiti art has been unrecognizably transformed. The updated style of the drab, gray residential behemoth is increasingly plaguing neighborhoods across New York City.

In November 2013, two decades' worth of elaborate murals by such legendary street artists as [Blade](https://galleriavarsi.it/artists/blade/?ref=hyperallergic.com) and [Lady Pink](https://www.ladypinknyc.com/about?ref=hyperallergic.com) were illegally whitewashed overnight at the request of developer Jerry Wolkoff of G&M Realty. Nine of the artists [sued Wolkoff](https://hyperallergic.com/214616/graffiti-artists-sue-5pointz-developer-for-whitewashing-their-murals/) for failing to give notice and preventing them from documenting or preserving their work prior to the building's demolition. In 2018, a federal court ruled that Wolkoff [violated the Visual Artists Rights Act of 1990 (VARA)](https://hyperallergic.com/426658/judge-rules-developer-must-pay-5pointz-graffiti-artists-6-7m/) and awarded $6.7 million in damages to 21 artists at the site in a precedent-setting decision to protect aerosol art.

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/hyperallergic-com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/3-hrag.jpg)

Left: Hrag Vartanian/Hyperallergic / Right Valentina Di Liscia/Hyperallergic

The high-rise residential towers at 22-44 Jackson Avenue feature [more than 1,100 apartments](https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/03/realestate/long-island-city-greenpoint-new-development.html?ref=hyperallergic.com) ranging in price from about $2,500 to over $6,000 a month, excluding prime penthouses, and 337 "affordable" housing units -- although only households making at least $63,000 are eligible to apply for them, according to [Patch](https://patch.com/new-york/astoria-long-island-city/337-affordable-apartments-grabs-lics-5-pointz-towers?ref=hyperallergic.com).

The development's [website](https://www.5pointzlic.com/?ref=hyperallergic.com) boasts "near-countless amenities," including an indoor pool and basketball court, a gaming room, a co-working space, and a sky lounge that will "allow you to create the life of your dreams." These various rooms are adorned by monotonous rows of paintings of the ubiquitous "hotel lobby" genre and a bland selection of mid-century-mehfurniture. Fortunately, the condos' planners seem to have scrapped [their tacky idea ](https://www.cityrealty.com/nyc/market-insight/rental-building-offers/long-island-city/5pointz-tour-amenity-packed-rental-replaced-graffiti-mecca-now-leasing-1900-month/49781?ref=hyperallergic.com)of filling the space with [graffiti-inspired artwork](https://hyperallergic.com/386244/a-glimpse-inside-the-street-art-themed-5pointz-condos/) in a paltry homage to the 5Pointz artists whose work it destroyed.

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/hyperallergic-com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/7-pelle-stenflickr.jpg)

Left: Pelle Sten via [Flickr](https://www.flickr.com/photos/pellesten/5675424160/?ref=hyperallergic.com) / Right: Valentina Di Liscia/Hyperallergic

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/hyperallergic-com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/1-hrag.jpg)

Left: Hrag Vartanian/Hyperallergic / Right: Valentina Di Liscia/Hyperallergic