5 Pointz permit approved by City Planning Commission

From the Queens Courier:

5Pointz, the graffiti covered warehouses in Long Island City, are one step closer to becoming two high-rise apartment buildings.

On Wednesday the City Planning Commission voted unanimously to approve the land use application that would allow the Wolkoff family, owners of the property on Jackson Avenue and Davis Street, to build apartment towers to larger dimensions than allowed by current zoning rules.

One tower would reach 47 stories and the other 41 stories, with close to 1,000 rental apartments, 30,000 square feet of outdoor public space and 50,000 square feet of retail space between them.

“Once City Planning delivers the application to the New York City Council, which we anticipate to be sometime next week, I will call the matter up,” said Councilmember Jimmy Van Bramer. “By calling it up we will trigger a 50 day window in which the City Council must vote on this application. Once this happens there will be two public City Council hearings at which the public will be invited to comment and testify. I will review the application at City Planning’s recommendation.”

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Helen on board with 5 Pointz special permit

From the Daily News:

Queens Borough President Helen Marshall announced Wednesday that she supports the plan to tear down the building, which houses the 5Pointz Aerosol Art Center, to create room for two luxury towers.

Her recommendation came after the owners of the site, Jerry and David Wolkoff, agreed to create 75 units of affordable housing for city workers, seniors, veterans and residents of northwestern Queens.

The developers also promised to create artists studios and free community space.

Better get your umbrellas out, folks. It's raining empty promises.

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Van Bramer got a load of dough from the Wolkoffs

From LIC Post:

Staunch advocates for the preservation of the 5 Pointz building are not going to be getting the support of Councilman Jimmy Van Bramer.

The councilman said that it would make no sense for the city to buy the graffiti Mecca and that the future of the community would be better served by housing—filled with young families—and a bustling retail district.

He said he is not an advocate for keeping the 5 Pointz building in its current form. He said that he believes in “property rights” and that the owner of the property—Jerry Wolkoff– is entitled to develop the site as long as his plans meet zoning rules and regulations.

Wolkoff plans to demolish the 5 Pointz building and develop two residential towers–one would be 47 stories high and the other 41 stories.

Van Bramer said the real issue is whether Wolkoff should be awarded a special zoning permit that would allow him to build 1,000 apartment units, 370 more than permitted “as of right” by present zoning rules. “They have requested a significant increase and they are not entitled to it,” he said. “They have to work with the community … and earn it.”

Some of the staunch advocates of 5 Pointz argue that Wolkoff’s money is playing a part in the decision making process.

Van Bramer’s 2013 election campaign fund has received a significant amount of money from the Wolkoffs.

David Wolkoff, the son of Jerry, has contributed $2,750.00 to Van Bramer, with other Wolkoff family members contributing a total of about $5,250. This represents a little less than 6% of the $143,000 that Van Bramer has amassed.

This pretty much sums up the situation:

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5 Pointz plan voted down by CB2

From the Daily News:

A plan to turn a famed Long Island City graffiti landmark into a pair of luxury condo towers was voted down Thursday night.

Members of Community Board 2 at the meeting on the future of 5Pointz said they wanted developer G & M Realty to offer some affordable housing and more artist space.

David Wolkoff, one of the owners of the former water meter factory, said he plans to “very seriously” look into the board’s suggestions.

But he pointed out that the board is strictly advisory and the local tourist attraction will be razed once the project receives city approval.

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