The February 11, 2007 episode of Extreme Makeover Home Edition is a Whitehall Ohio location! Columbus' own M/I Homes demolished and rebuilt a house for the family of former Marine Sergeant Jason L. Thomas. Whitehall is an eastside suburb of Columbus.
From the local website: "WATCH THE SHOW SUNDAY FEBRUARY 11, 2007" The local website has lots of great photos, a journal and more. Plus the story of the owners heroic involvement in 9/11 is told on the local website. The story was depicted in the movie 'World Trade Center.'
Media coverage in November 2006 when the existing house was demolished and a new house was built at the site:
Columbus Dispatch -Whitehall home chosen for "Extreme Makeover" says:
"The TV show Extreme Makeover: Home Edition has picked the Whitehall home of former Marine Sgt. Jason L. Thomas, whose heroism is depicted in the movie World Trade Center, as its next project."
Columbus Dispatch - Time short for family's fixer-upper
Akron Beacon Journal -9/11 hero gets a new house from TV's "Extreme Makeover" quoted a staff member of Extreme Makeover Home Edition about the old house built in 1998:
"Because the house is in such poor condition, the show's producers decided to build the family a new one."
Recent media updates:
Feb, 2008 Grove City News a local home inspection company donated their time and talent to the Thomas families cause. They inspected the existing home: "Chuck Faught and Lou Willard, owners of Premier Property Inspections will be featured on the show that rebuilds the homes of deserving families in one week." Lots of local companies were involved, there is a list on the local website
"9/11 hero's donated home mainly a blessing, but ..." in the Columbus Dispatch gives an inside look at finance of a makeover.
The Extreme Makeover Home Edition Website says:
"Next Episode:
Sunday, February 11, 7/6c
"Thomas Family," parts 1 & 2
An ex-Marine who risked his life to save two police officers at the World Trade Center during the September 11 attacks will be honored with a new home in two emotional back-to-back episodes. "
Previously on Active Rain blog...in November when the episode was shot.
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This post was written by Maureen McCabe of Real Living HER
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A most deserving young man and his family, a very appropriate choice.
Jay
It is an interesting local story Jay......there was more in the Columbus Dispath about it yesterday....I need to add that link.
Yes MO in MI. One entry and a comment and you will be in your rightful position... no 2 comments since I will get 20 points if you blog...
Watching the show right now - seems like an incredible and deserving family! I'm really curious, though, who in the world was the builder that built that house only 8 years old? What shoddy and unethical craftsmenship. Seems like there should be some sort of investigation or consequences - especially things like building on an old and crumbling foundation, a new home, the steps inside falling apart? Did they use rotton wood???
Jaelynne: Not a good builder! I am not going to name the builder here I will look to see if you are a member who wasn't signed in and I will tell you via email. OR email me and I will tell you who the builder of the original house is..
They do build shoddy BUT I think there was some poetic license also to make the family seem more deserving because the house was eight years old and in poor shape. I did not get to watch the whole show so I don't know whether it was disclosed that when the family bought this house it was a repo. It may have been abused.
They did tell the part about another foundation being found under it...
Katy: You are right it was not a repo it was a short sale! I looked it up in November and remembered "CONTINGENT ON BANK APPROVAL" .... It was a sale from the first owners to the present owners.
In my mind many short sales are also often abused. The one I wrote an offer on in December 2006 sure was.
Do you think it was something about this particular house being built that made it shoddy?