Suspicious fire tears through ‘Taxi House’ at Heidelberg Project early Sunday

The eighth art-festooned house at the world-renowned Heidelberg Project was damaged Sunday morning in yet another suspicious fire.

The fire broke out at 7:15 a.m. at the vacant Taxi House at 3412 Mt. Elliot. Firefighters requested an extra engine to put out the blaze.

The Taxi House is owned by the city of Detroit.

The fire came less than two months after someone fire-bombed the abandoned Birthday Cake House.

The ATF and Detroit Fire Department have been investigating the arsons, which started a little more than a year ago. At the time, the Heidelberg Project was raising money and ended up collecting more than $50,000 for surveillance.

The nonprofit’s handling of its properties and the fundraiser incensed donors.

The Heidelberg Project held another fundraiser in September and October, when two more art-decorated houses were torched. The nonprofit raised just $585.

With the $50,000, the nonprofit was supposed to buy cameras and hire a security guard. The Heidelberg Project dropped the security guard after about a month and now relies on cameras.

It wasn’t clear this morning whether the cameras captured the latest fire.

The Heidelberg Project has not commented as of 10:30 a.m. Sunday.

Read more about the Heidelberg Project and the creator, Tyree Guyton.

  Arson, art, ATF, east side, fire, Fire department, Heidelberg Project, Tyree Guyton

Steve Neavling

Steve Neavling lives and works in Detroit as an investigative journalist. His stories have uncovered corruption, led to arrests and reforms and prompted FBI investigations.

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