It could be the most unusual house in Brooklyn, or in the city, for that matter. Now it is empty, the owners ordered out by the city. But as NY1’s Jeanine Ramirez explains, a comedy star, who brought the house notoriety is trying to help the residents get back to the home they love.

"My home is everything to me,” said Cynthia Wood, owner of “Broken Angel.” “This is where I’ve been for 28 years. It's creating art, a structure that I'm proud of."

“Broken Angel” is the home of Cynthia and Arthur Woods, much of which was built by their own hands. And over the years, they kept building, an extra 50 feet straight up.

With wooden beams, ladders and stained glass, the top appears to be floating. That is the look the Woods intended.

But after a recent fire, the Building Department had its own look at the place determining the structure had some serious violations and the work was done without the proper permits. The Woods were ordered to vacate the building, and when they did not they were arrested.

"It’s been difficult; it's been horrendous,” said Cynthia Wood. “We're senior citizens and we're out in the street."

"In the 28 years that we were there, no one was ever hurt by anything, anything falling from the building or within the building,” explained her husband, Arthur Wood.

The Woods named their home after finding a cupid statue in the street, piecing it back together and placing it on their mantel.

“Broken Angel” gained international exposure when comedian Dave Chappelle featured it in his 2006 movie “Block Party” and staged a concert out in front. Now Chappelle is offering to put together a benefit concert to help the Woods get their home up to code.

"On the stage at Broken Angel, he said he wanted to give something back to the community,” recalled Arthur Wood. “And this would be a wonderful way to give something back to the community."

Many members of the community are already pitching in to help the Woods. Volunteers from Pratt Institute's Architectural Department are working on new designs.

"For me it's not a business venture,” said Vladimir J. Charles, an architect helping with the project. “It's more of a requirement, as a member of the community to see if I can help."

And City Councilwoman Letitia James helped make a deal with the city not to demolish the whole thing. In Brooklyn's civil court two weeks ago the Department of Buildings allowed the Woods to keep the first five floors of the building, the rest has to go.

"The first part is the initial dismantling of the upper parts, with the hope that one day they could be rebuilt in some form that is appropriate," explained Brent Porter, a professor at the Pratt Institute.

"We love “Broken Angel” and we love the Woods and we want them to stay, particularly at a time when we're facing great displacement of artists,” added James.

And so with continuing support, the Woods may be able to once again to call “Broken Angel” home.

- Jeanine Ramirez