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Home for Large Family Demolished and Rebuilt in the Most Extreme of ABC-TV’s ‘Extreme Makeovers’

With a crew of 300 people working around the clock, ABC-TV’s “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” razed a house and built a new one from the foundation up in only a week, relying on help from HomeAid America and Shea Homes.

Selected to receive the new house was the Garay family of Los Angeles. After Johnny Garay’s mother was killed at home two years ago by a stray bullet from a drive-by shooting, all of the five half-siblings left behind moved in with his family so that they would not be separated by Child Protective Services. With nine children, the new household was forced to move to a larger house, but could only afford a fixer-upper.

“They need a house that’s not on the verge of being red-tagged,” said Bert Selva, president and CEO of Shea Homes. “We want to give them more than a house with heat and without broken windows. We want this to be the first step in building a better community for both the Garays and their neighbors.”

Shea Homes and its trade partners donated hundreds of thousands of dollars in resources and labor to build the 4,700-square-foot dream home, which is more than twice the size of the Garay’s previous residence.

The home was designed by Orange County-based Bassenian/Lagoni Architects, which also donated its work on the project.

HomeAid America lined up the builder and architect for the television producers when it became apparent that renovation of the Garay’s existing home was not a viable option. The effort was a first for the show’s designers, who normally move walls, replace floors and radically change house facades.

Established in 1989 by the Orange County chapter of the Building Industry Association of Southern California, HomeAid America is a national non-profit organization that builds shelters for the temporary homeless.

Taping of the show began on June 2 and ended on June 9. Scheduled to air in the 2004-2005 season, the specific date for the program has yet to be announced.

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