On Tuesday, Michael Delahaut, who lives across the street, said he was watching police raid the buildings. To the 54-year-old, who has been in the L.A. graffiti scene since the 1980s, the creation outside his window was no nuisance — it was more like waking up and finding a masterpiece had been installed in his living room.

“It would’ve taken hundreds of writers, tens of thousands of cans. It’s amazing,” he said. “I’ve been able to witness a lot of graffiti movement moments, but this might be the biggest.”

That must have been so great to watch. I love graffiti. Not just someone writing their tag in pen, that’s just low-effort shit. Real graffiti where someone has taken time to make something beautiful? I love it. And there is so much beauty on those buildings where there was just waste before.