Heidelberg Project's House Of Soul Burns To Ground In Detroit
DETROIT (WWJ) - Another piece of Detroit's famed Heidelberg Project has been destroyed.
Fire completely ravaged the "House of Soul" on Elba Street Tuesday morning.
The house is located about a block away from the project's main area on Heidelberg Street, near Mt. Elliot Street and Mack Avenue on the city's east side.
Reporting live from the scene, WWJ's Mike Campbell said the House of Soul, which was covered in old vinyl albums, is completely gone -- burned down to nothing but cinders.
A cause of the fire remains under investigation, although arson is suspected.
Link Gibson was among the crowd gathered outside of the charred house. Gibson said he helped construct the "work of art."
"I walked here every day to work with Mr. Tyree to do some upkeep here. I helped put some artifacts up here," he said, adding that there were over 2,000 albums on the house. After the fire, only three albums were visible.
This is the Heidelberg Project's second house that has recently gone up in flames.
In May, the Obstruction of Justice House was heavily damaged by fire, leaving behind just a pile of rubble. Then, in early October, fire consumed what remained of the OJ House. Arson is suspected in both fires at the OJ House. However, no arrests have been made.
"It seems like whoever is doing this is picking the houses going in order, starting with the best house down to the worst. But they're going to get them all, that's what their mindset is on," Gibson said.
Tyree Guyton, founder and artistic director of Heidelberg Project, describes it as an open-air art environment where discarded objects are used to create a two-block area full of color, symbolism and intrigue. Guyton started the project in 1986.
The Heidelberg Project is a popular destination for locals and visitors alike. It has also been featured in numerous Hollywood films and TV shows.
