Many architectural monuments from the pre-revolutionary period are currently in a deplorable state and at risk of destruction. One such masterpiece in Rostov-on-Don is the income house of the heirs of merchant Maximov, known as the "house with angels." This cultural heritage site of regional significance is beloved by the townspeople, and during attempts at its illegal demolition, many Rostov residents actively defended it. The confrontation has been ongoing for several years.

According to one version, the building was constructed in the late 19th century on the order of merchants Benjamin Kisin and Isaac Froimovich. However, it is now becoming clear that the house of Kisin and Froimovich was located nearby, and this building belonged to the heirs of merchant Maximov. This version is supported by the fact that the land belonged to Maximov, and it is unlikely that it was sold. Construction was completed in 1899. Initially, the project was developed by architect Nikolai Doroshenko, but in 1902 and 1910, it was reconstructed by architect Durbach.

Originally, the building had a U-shape, with its side facade facing Gazetny Lane, but during World War II, part of the building was destroyed by an explosion. The facade is richly decorated with plaster and stucco decor, characteristic of the transition from eclecticism to neoclassical modernism. The central part of the facade is highlighted by brackets with an attic and niches. The first floor features side entrances with exedras and attics. The building is adorned with classicist decor.

On the upper floors, the windows are framed with architraves. On the second floor, the windows have triangular pediments, while on the third, they are rectangular. In the center of the facade, the windows are decorated with desyudeportraits, and in the niches of the first floor, putti. The central part of the facade is topped with a cornice with dry biscuits. The finishes of the attics of the outer brackets have been lost. The house has two grand entrances with carved doors and stucco decorations.

The house has four balconies, two on each of the upper floors. The balconies are recessed into the building, creating an open space. The ceiling above the third-floor balconies is painted dark blue with silver stars.

Inside, the house was richly decorated: the floors were laid with white and blue tiles, the railings were adorned with metal grilles, and the staircases were made of marble. The ceilings were decorated with stucco, and the walls transitioned into stucco ornamentation. Each room had its own ornament: sunflowers, grapevines, flowers. However, during the Soviet era, the interior decoration was destroyed.

Beneath the building are basements that were previously used as storage. Before the revolution, shops were located on the first floor, and above, apartments rented by doctors, lawyers, and engineers. A notable resident was Dr. Gurari, who treated patients with X-rays. The house also had cheap apartments with separate entrances.

After the Bolsheviks came to power, a shop continued to operate on the first floor, and an address bureau, mentioned in the novel "The Twelve Chairs," was also located there. Later, the bureau occupied the entire first floor and operated until the late 1990s. Large rooms were divided to accommodate more tenants. In the 1920s, homeless children slept in the house, and it quickly fell into disrepair.

Currently, the building is in terrible condition. There is a shop on the first floor, and three apartments above. It has been attempted to be demolished multiple times, but thanks to the activity of local residents, the government proposed to create a museum in the building, relocate the remaining tenants, and carry out restoration.