As you may have heard, Broken Angel caught on fire a few days ago. In the photos I've seen, it looked like only a small part of the structure on top actually burned, the FDNY had it all put out fairly quickly. Unfortunately, the DOB got wind of it, and now wants to kick the Woods out of the building unless they get an architect and bring the place up to code. Something tells me there is no specific code that covers buildings that have constantly-changing roof sculpture. So they'll shoehorn the building into some standard code and probably have to shut the whole operation down.

If Broken Angel goes down, that's really it for Clinton Hill. The kind of limited imagination that forces like Broken Angel have helped to disrupt have been threatening this area for years. Now it looks like they just might usurp one of the last symbols of what used to be good about this neighborhood. Already there are comments on Brownstoner that typify the kind of lame, save-the-children rhetoric that just really gets under my skin. "It's beautiful art … but people could have been killed." Yeah, I wish it had been you. I say that only because this is the kind of knee-jerk reaction that seem to be ruling the day: lame, reactionary thought. I, for one, would be very disappointed if Broken Angel gets the axe. Here's the message from Christopher Wood asking for assistance. Does anybody know Dave Chappelle's email address?

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 immediately 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.