Dave Chappelle and Michel Gondry used the kooky Clinton Hill building slash art project Broken Angel in their concert film Block Party. (“When I say it’s an ill house, it’s the craziest shit I’ve seen in my life,” Chappelle says in the movie.) But after a fire this fall, the Department of Buildings slapped its owners, Arthur and Cynthia Wood, with several violations for missing floors and incomplete walls—and began demolition proceedings. Now the city wants the Woods to chop 40 feet off the top and make other renovations totaling $35,000 by the end of January. Their son, Christopher, had the idea of trying to get Gondry and Chappelle to do a benefit at the nearby Pratt Institute. But he hasn’t heard back from Chappelle, and Gondry has made only vague promises to help. Wood is worried. “Michel would be willing to be of any assistance for the Broken Angel’s home, if he is able,” says Gondry’s rep. “He is open to holding a screening and/or a benefit concert with the Roots and Dave Chappelle to help raise money.”

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Related:

• Archive: “Intelligencer”
• Articles by Marcus Baram
• Table of Contents: Jan 15, 2007 issue of New York | Subscribe!