Fire destroys "Penny House" at Detroit's Heidelberg Project

Thursday's fire claims another Heidelberg Project home

DETROIT – This morning another Heidelberg Project home has been destroyed by fire.  The "Penny House" has burned to the ground.

Tyree Guyton, the Heidelberg Project's founder, tells Local 4 that the "Penny House" was going to be turned into offices for the project.

---The Penny House as it stood prior to the fire

The Detroit Fire Department was dispatched shortly after 3 a.m. to a house fire on Mt. Elliott and Elba on Detroit's east side.

Once firefighters arrived on scene, the house was fully engulfed.  Crews were spraying water on nearby structures to prevent embers from catching other buildings on fire.

The Heidelberg project has been the target of arsonists recently.  Last week a fire destroyed the "House of Soul".

IMAGES: Heidelberg Project's 'House of Soul' burns

Since May, the Project has been hit by two other arsons and two attempted arsons.

---Flames engulfed the Penny House Thursday morning

Previous fires destroy other house

Earlier this year, the project's OJ (Obstruction of Justice) House was set on fire, twice -- in May and October.

--Obstruction of Justice house

They're being investigated as arson, but no arrests have been made.

In 1991 and 1999, the city of Detroit ordered the demolition of some of the homes.

The OJ House was the oldest house installation since the last demolition.

The project has become a tourist destination and offers community programs in art and education.


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