I live in the neighborhood, and I would always compare it to the other tunnel off broadway to the A train. That tunnel is always much cleaner and they keep it buffed... and it looks like a nazi bunker.

It wasn't just graffiti/tags, the designated murals underneath were really good. For me 'ownership' means having some visuals to break up an otherwise long somewhat creepy walk through a tunnel.

Edit: Somehow the beige paint feels like another slight in a long list of disinvestment in this area. They took something away and gave nothing back, much like the nearby Amelia Gorman Park that the city chained up 5+ years ago and has never repaired.