An Appeal From the Owners of the Broken Angel
As many of us suspected, the fire at the Broken Angel has brought increased scrutiny by the Department of Buildings, prompting this appeal from the owners’ son post on Brooklyn Record last night: The New York City Building department is attempting to remove my parents from their home of 30 years, unless we immediatly get…
As many of us suspected, the fire at the Broken Angel has brought increased scrutiny by the Department of Buildings, prompting this appeal from the owners’ son post on Brooklyn Record last night:
The New York City Building department is attempting to remove my parents from their home of 30 years, unless we immediatly get an architect or engineer to bring the building to NYC codes. We do not have the money to do this. If there is anyone out there who is qualified and willing to work Pro Bono we desperately need the help, contributions are also welcome. You can contact my father. Arthur Wood, 4 Downing St, Brooklyn, NY 11238. Also we appeal to David Chappelle and Michel Gondry.Our home became the backdrop for your wonderful concert film, please help us to save it now.
BREAKING: Broken Angel on Fire! [Brooklyn Record]
Does your parents have equity in the building and how much? Have you considered HUD backed reverse mortgage. When presenting your plan you will need to explain how you are going to fund it. 1) Determine the cost of repairing the property. 2) Speak with a HUD approved lender regarding reverse mortgage or other available vehicle. 3) Will the liquidated equity cover the cost of repairs? You need to have an appraisal of the property performed. The appraisal should state current value and repaired value. You need to do this groundwork first.
I would be willing to contribute if the Woods made a direct appeal and said more about their vision for the building. As a homeowner and resident of Clinton Hill, I value all kinds of diversity in the area and would love a place to gather, support local art, etc. However, I would definitely be more inclined if I were giving to a non-profit as opposed to private individuals. If the Woods are serious about creating a public community space, reach out to the those who live in the immediate neighborhood, partner with them, and organize. Tell us your plan.
Christopher, I thought they were living with you? Homeless people live in the streets. Go to India, Guatemala, Sri Lanka, under the bridges here in Brooklyn, these people are homeless with no place to go.
The creative must create… but, they must sustain. What good is a work if some may not access it? What good is a work if some may get hurt? I know, I know… common sense, don’t step on the burnt out beam, ya’ ass… but still… isn’t it all about seeing? Getting there? Being there and being safe in the physical sense?
Keep what you’re doing, PLEASE but have the responsibility that comes with being a human animal and take care of your fellow humans to witness your ingenuity.
My elderly parents were evicted today by police, and are now homeless.
How can we help? the building’s got to be saved. email me at duffmorton@gmail.com
As a fellow artist, and a protagonist of green living, I wish the Woods well. Surely people who live in their area would be willing to help them out. They’re seniors, for Pete’s sake. The Broken Angel is their home.
I’m all for “bending” the rules to allow for creativity and to offset the cost of bringing something special to a community – but that structure is [i]literally[/i] in danger of imminent collapse, and they are asking for donations to a private individuals (they have not set up a non-profit corp to take care of the buildings maintainance) to fix their own house. By that logic, hoarders can claim to maintain their unsafe lifestyle by calling it “art” –
I don’t think they should have to remove their additions, but I think its more than fair to ask them to insure the structural integrity of the building and to keep it from endangering the health, safety and welfare of the community.
Please forward this to the owners: I’m an artist and a licensed architect. I’d be happy to take a look at the building, and give you some help bringing it up to code. I live in queens, but fondly remember happening upon the Broken Angel this summer when I was looking for a place to live in Brooklyn.