Day 4

1 PM.

The foundation crew met their deadline! By 1 PM, most of the main floor had been framed.

The street took on more of a festival/block party air today along with the work crews building the house.

 There was a home set up for production teams.  The entire front and backyard of this home were put to use.

Paint world was located at the next home.

 The VIP tent could be found on the opposite side of the street.  Chairs and coffee were available there.

There was a shuttle stop for the Gray Line buses.  People were lining up to take a bus back to their car. 

Extreme Makeover memorabilia and clothing was for sale in a neighbor’s front yard.

Rich and Danielle D’Agostino(not pictured), the entrepreneurial neighbors directly across the street from the site, had set up a grill and were cooking hot dogs and burgers. 

Regardless of the press and the shuttle buses bringing people to the site, the people I meet here are mostly neighbors from The Highlands, friends, fellow church members, and relatives of the Chapin family.   Everyone, including the staff for the show, has been  friendly and helpful.  The atmosphere is very positive and upbeat.  It’s rare in today’s society we are able to experience this feeling of community spirit. We’re all so busy in our daily lives. It reminds me of pioneering families banding together to build some shelter and the Amish working together for barn raisings.  Maybe in the midst of all this fast and furious work of home building and Hollywood, we are able as a society and as individuals to share some community spirit.  

Both The Seattle PI and The Seattle Times have written stories about the project.

Day 3

 1 PM

Huge trucks, mammoth construction equipment and Gray Line tour buses.

 The house and the demolition debris were all gone.
 Excavation was happening today, big time. 

The dirt pile from the excavation looked like it was about 20 feet high.

Plans were reviewed on the street. 

Trucks were lined up with construction materials ready for the foundation to be poured in the late afternoon. 

 Trucks  were lined up to haul the dirt away.

The first trucks were ready and waiting to bring the cement in for the foundation.

I spoke with one of the location managers who said excellerant would be added to the concrete to help it dry quickly.  After the concrete was fully poured, it was expected to be dry in 4 hours!

 So, framing should start sometime tonight.

The crowds are getting larger.

Thevolunteers, friends, and families are out in their blue Extreme Makeover T-shirts.

Things are moving fast!

 

Day Two

1 PM:  The siding on the home is gone.

Lunch served:

 3 PM- garage gone.

3:30 PM-Pool yanked out.

4- 5 PM house demolished.

 5 PM:  It’s all gone!

Here it is, the Chapin home in the Kirkland Highlands.  This home is here today, but will be gone by Friday.  The Chapin family will get a new home courtesy of “Extreme Makeover” and ABC.  The family will come back from vacation to a brand new, fully furnished home.  It was obvious from the moment you stepped onto the block, everyone who lives nearby is taking a part.  This is a true neighborhood project with neighbors helping neighbors. What a wonderful testament to all who live here. This is community at its best.

Today it was already hopping. 

Outhouses, catering and equipment trucks, rental equipment, and huge lights were being set all over the street.

Friends of the family were all waiting to pack up the house.

Tomorrow the “before” photos will be taken and the heavy demolition begins.