Save This Biggie Mural By Signing A Petition To Make It A Landmark

biggie-mural

Yesterday, reports surfaced that one of Hip-Hop’s most recognized murals, a painting in Brooklyn depicting The Notorious B.I.G. wearing a crown, was on the verge of being destroyed. According to an article in DNA Info, Samuel Berkowitz, the owner of the building that houses the mural, is seeking to add windows to the building’s facade, so that he can charge tenants more rent. “Why should I keep it,” Berkowitz said to DNA. “I don’t even see the point of the discussion. I could demolish the building if I wanted to, I don’t need no permission from anyone except the [Department of Buildings].”

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Well, it turns out Berkowitz will need permission, if the building is declared a landmark, and a new petition is seeking to do just that. “It’s bad enough there is an affordable rental crisis in the city but now the landlord wants to destroy the culture that makes Brooklyn special. However, if we make this building a landmark, we can preserve the mural. By landmarking the building the landlord is unable to make any changes to the facade without permission from the Landmarks and Preservation Commission,” reads a statement by Nia Raquelle, who has started the petition on Change.org. “It is my intention to go to one of the upcoming public hearings, most likely the June 6th hearing, so there is adequate time to get signatures and fight for this mural,” she continues.

The petition currently has just over 1000 signatures, but this in an opportunity for Hip-Hop to send a real statement about the power and value of our culture. It literally takes less than a minute to add your signature. If Biggie, art or Hip-Hop means something to you, CLICK HERE TO SIGN THE PETITION

Raquelle joins Spread Art NYC in fighting to keep the mural alive. The organization offered Berkowitz $5,000 to preserve the mural, but the landlord refused.

A few updates on “king Of NY” Mural: we just want everyone to know that Spread Art NYC, your humble community Art organization has been working real hard to keep this mural up for the past year! Landlord always calls us and Claims that the neighbors are complaining about the mural and the crowds it attracts. About 4 months ago, he told us about the construction he will be doing which will damage the mural in the process. He will be opening Windows on the wall to increase rent profit by $500 according to them. Today Spread Art NYC offered $5000 (which we planned to gather from the community and the fans) not to open the windows. Unfortunately, that offer was declined and it was answered by a counteroffer of $1250 a month. At this point, there is nothing Spread Art NYC can do to save this mural. We will continue to serve our neighborhoods regardless!! Community is our goal, we like to give back and we thought A biggie mural at the corner of #bedfordandquincy was needed to keep the culture alive, to keep Brooklyn Alive. We always say, Brooklyn is Biggie and Biggie is Brooklyn. A landlord can NEVER change that! We want to thank everyone for the love! We promise, we GOT YOU!!!#spreadartnyc #20bigyears #bedstuy #bedfordstuyvesant #biggie #kingofny #livefrombedfordstuyvesant #spreadloveitsthebrooklynway

A post shared by Spread Art NYC (@spreadartnyc) on May 15, 2017 at 4:41pm PDT

Ambrosia For Heads will continue to update this story, as it develops.

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Author: Parfit

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8 years ago in News

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Save This Biggie Mural By Signing A Petition To Make It A Landmark

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