“5Pointz: The Institute of Higher Burnin” is as important to graffiti artists as the Pro Football Hall of Fame is to football players.

5Pointz is located in Long Island City, Queens, New York. It is a local apartment complex in which aerosol artist can create vibrant street art. These artworks are not just any graffiti markings that you would see in a city alley; these paintings are murals depicting current events and world struggles.

Unfortunately, this art mecca could be knocked down due to a demand of new condos for people to live in. In the 1970s, Jerry Wolkoff bought the property, and he now has plans for it after the knock-down.

Wolkoff plans to make two high rise apartment buildings and compromise with the aerosol artists by setting aside 60 foot areas for them to show off.

To many artists, this building is history. To Wolkoff, it is nothing. “Paintings [can] be painted over… [People] paint over their work continuously. It’s nothing. A piece goes up, and six months later somebody else paints over it,” Wolkoff said in an interview with New York Magazine.

As said by Freshman Maggie Kousoulou, “It is a real shame that they have to knock down such a cool place. It really gives all artists a say in events happening in the world.”

Jerry Wolkoff sees the whole project being finished in late 2015 to early 2016. He hopes that even though the walls will be blank at first, they turn out to be something great.

If you are interested in helping 5pointz staying where it is, you can visit their web site at www.5ptz.com.