Support sought for saving Bukowski's bungalow

Charles Bukowski has been called the "Poet Laureate of Skid Row," "Bard of the Barroom and the Brothel," "A Dirty Old Man" and one ofthe finest writers of his generation. DVDs of "Barfly," the out-of-print film starring Mickey Rourke as his combative alter ego Hank Chinaski trade for big bucks on eBay, an Esotouric bus adventure tours his former haunts and his books are among the most stolen from libraries. And in Los Angeles, his influence continues to be felt deeply by fans and fellow writers.
Now a loose consortium of Bukowski lovers and historic preservationists have come together in order to save Bukowski's long-time home in Hollywood, the modest bungalow at 5124 De Longpre Ave. where in 1969 Buk made the daring decision to leave his day job at the Post Office and try to make it as awriter. It was a wise gamble, for soon the De Longpre porch was packed with young people who wanted to know this rough-edged, tender-hearted writer with the scarred cheeks and wry laugh. They brought him beer and kisses, and Bukowski perched at his typewriter in the kitchen and wrote stories about them, and his Hollywood neighbors, his girlfriends, his parents, his bad jobs and his big dreams.
The residents of the bungalows at 5124 De Longpre Ave. were recently evicted, and the property has been advertised as a $1.3 million vacant lot on Craigslist. But Bukowski lovers won't let this significant piece of literary history be demolished without a fight. The city's Cultural Heritage Commission has agreed to put the preservation of Bukowski's home on the agenda for their September 20th meeting. They will hear a presentation on the property, and will decide whether to proceed with the landmarking process. That's where you come in. If you care about Bukowski's legacy, and the legacy of all writers in Hollywood, please help spread the word about this hearing.
Write a letter or send an email expressing your support for the landmarking process. Come to the hearing and show your support in person. For more info on the property and the hearing, photographs of the building, and a sample letter to the Commission, please visit http://5124delongpre.civicspaceondemand.org/blog Or send your letter and/or email of support before September 20 to:
Attn. Mary Martin, 200 N. Spring St., Rm. 620, Los Angeles, CA 90012 (or edgar.garcia@lacity.org)
In a poem dedicated to his publisher John Martin, Bukowski wrote: "and thank you/ for locating me there at/ 5124 De Longpre Avenue/ somewhere between/alcoholism and/ madness./ together we/ laid down the gauntlet/ and there are takers/ even at this late date/ still to be/ found/ as the fire sings/through the/ trees."