The fantastic Broken Angel building in the Clinton Hill neighborhood of Brooklyn is in great jeopardy. The owners have been evicted after 30 years because of code violations and the city plans on demolishing this historic building in 3 weeks if it is not brought up to code. To make matters worse, today it caught on fire, which luckily was quickly put out by the FDNY. They are in desperate need of help to save this historic building.
Along with being a fixture of the Brooklyn arts community and an architectural wonder, Broken Angel was also used as the location for Michel Gondry’s film “Dave Chappelle’s Block Party”. For more info, check out the amazing photos and information posted on Flickr by Christopher Wood, the son of the owners, who grew up in the house and is trying desperately to save it from extinction.
I am Christopher Wood, son of Arthur (age 75) and Cindy Wood (age 65) the owners and creators of Broken Angel. 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 11238Also 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.
For more info, check out the recent article on Broken Angel in the New York Times.
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Update Broken Angel 10/29/06
On 10/10/06 Broken Angel suffered minimal damage from a fire at the top of the structure. The cause of the fire is unknown and still under investigation. Broken Angel has been an active project of construction by my family beginning in 1979. Major construction was finished in 2002, and all work done thereafter has been for the purpose of maintaining the building. The fire brought the attention of the Department of Buildings (DOB), previous interactions had occurred in 1986, and 2002 with no action taken against the building. During the course of building and maintaining the structure there have been no accidents or complaints. Compared with most modern construction projects, such as the Time Warner building in NYC, this is an excellent record. It raises questions as to why large developers are allowed to continue construction when they pose a risk to the community, whereas Broken Angel, which has no history of construction problems, has been singled out as a danger. My mother and father, the legal guardians and owners of Broken Angel were threatened with eviction for 6 days. On the 7th day they were vacated by the police without a court order or engineer’s report. We question the necessity and the humanity of this action. They were told that this was done for their safety; however action was taken prior to any inspection of the interior of the building by an engineer. Furthermore, we were told that the building would be demolished in 3 weeks if an architect did not submit plans to bring it to code. We have been compliant with this request. We are thankful to the firm of Jordan Parnass Digital Architecture http://www.jpda.net/news.html for all of their help and support. On Thursday (10/26/06) an engineer from the DOB toured the structure, and the next day the DOB released a different story. A DOB spokesperson recently commented to the Daily News (10/27/06) that any demolition orders, if warranted will take approximately 3 months to begin.
Update Broken Angel 11/13/06 please post
The building Broken Angel is a unique melding of art and architecture designed by my father Arthur Wood, and located in the Clinton Hill section of Brooklyn. The original building was bought at a city auction in 1979, and major construction was completed in 2002. On 10/10/06 a structure at the top of Broken Angel caught fire. Thanks to the quick action of the New York City fire department no one was harmed, and only minimal damage was done to the building. Unfortunately the fire brought the attention of the department of buildings (DOB) who vacated my parents, the owners and guardians of Broken Angel. My family is currently working with the architecture firm, Jordan Parnass Digital Architecture http://www.jpda.net/news.html, to bring the building to code, however we are still being threatened with demolition by the DOB. On Wednesday 11/15/06 the Brooklyn Supreme Court will begin hearings on whether the actions of the DOB are justified. Additionally we will be selling photographs and paintings as a fundraiser at Artez’n (444 Atlantic Avenue, Brooklyn NY). These works of art can also be viewed and purchased on line at http://www.artezn.com/product/?product_id=5246 .We are attempting to raise funds to save the building and develop it in a way that will help the community. In selling our art work we are hoping to make Broken Angel a permanent art installation and fixture of Brooklyn. For those who are interested in viewing the building additional photos of Broken Angel can by seen at http://www.flickr.com/photos/onebadapple/ . In closing my family would like to say thank you to all of the people who have been so gracious in their offers of help. We deeply appreciate your support.
Update 11/28/06
The Wood family is very thankful for the support we have received in our attempt to rescue Broken Angel. However the building is far from saved and time is running out. Broken Angel is a legally built architectural sculpture, which my father would love to transform into a home for the arts. Broken Angel is viewed by thousands of people who come to see it every year. If this quirky and original structure disappears, Quincy and Downing streets will again become a forgotten corner of Brooklyn. My name is Christopher Wood; I am the son of the creators of Broken Angel. I have lived my entire life in Brooklyn. I have grown up and continue to be enmeshed in a world of art. I am a stone carver and photographer. I have restored many of New York’s cherished landmarks including the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Cloisters, Grace Church, the Tweed Court house, and currently the main branch of the New York City Public Library. I call on Brooklyn to support and help us restore Broken Angel. Please email or write your local politicians to show your support and help us block the demolition of Broken Angel. If you are a legal professional, we desperately need help fighting the Department of Buildings in court. Additionally those who are willing and able can purchase paintings by my father or my photographs of Broken Angel at Artez’n at 444 Atlantic Ave. Works of art for sale can also be obtained online at http://www.artezn.com/. I guarantee that a work of art bought this holiday season will retain its value better than a Play Station 3. Please help us and show the developers who want to turn Brooklyn into another skyline of giant buildings that we will not go gently into the shadows of greed and over development. I can be contacted at chriswood718@yahoo.com
Photos of Broken Angel http://www.flickr.com/photos/onebadapple/
My restoration work http://www.bandhartinarch.com/
Broken Angel in the press http://www.nydailynews.com/boroughs/story/471350p-396673c.html
http://www.sethkushner.com/brooklynites/images_07.html
http://www.brooklynpapers.com/html/issues/_vol29/29_41/29_41wood.html
http://gowanuslounge.blogspot.com/2006/10/broken-angel-standoff-clinton-hill.html
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/10/18/arts/design/18ange.html?ex=1318824000&en=71516c7d95832cff&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
I realize this problem may now be resolved. But I would like to say that I knew Arthur Wood many years ago, and though he may not be the most famous artist, he is one of the finest artists I have ever met. His style is immediately recognizable, he was a master many years ago, and I can only imagine what he is capable of producing now. It would be a terrible crime against art to destroy the amazing building “Broken Angel,” which is whimsical, beautiful, and magical.