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Extreme Makeover in Seminole

Extreme conditions for 'Extreme Makeover' crew

By CHASE SQUIRES
Published March 10, 2005

	[Times photo: Cherie Diez]
	11:30 AM: Designer Paul DiMeo goofs around for the camera as work continues.
	[Times photo: Lara Cerri]
	7:55 PM: Most of the roof is in place and walls are erected as crews race the clock.

SEMINOLE - Extreme Makeover: Home Edition builders were extremely wet, extremely cold and extremely productive in the predawn hours Wednesday. By midmorning, the giant home they are building for shooting victim James Dolan had walls, windows and a roof.

Lexington Homes president Craig Gallagher said that workers did their jobs in terrible conditions - temperatures in the 40s, slick surfaces, rain and darkness - but came through without complaint. Crews worked in shifts, changing clothes frequently and hovering over kerosene heaters to fend off the chill, he said.

Extreme Makeover and Lexington Homes are building a home for Dolan, a father of three, who was blinded in the Nov. 18 St. Petersburg RadioShack shootings. On Tuesday, the family's 1960s-era ranch house was leveled in less than 10 minutes. Gallagher said that once debris was cleared, a new concrete pad of about 5,000 square feet was poured. The quick-drying concrete was solid by 3:30 a.m. Wednesday, and walls started going up.

In addition to scores of volunteers, carpenters and television workers scurrying around the 99th Way N neighborhood, Cristina Pelletier stopped by to volunteer in the media tent, helping reporters gather information.

Pelletier, 25, is a financial services representative from Sarasota who last week appeared on the original Extreme Makeover show, a program about people changing their looks and style with the help of experts and ABC. Pelletier, who had plastic surgery, liposuction, and hairstyle and makeup changes as part of a two-month process, said that ABC producers were so good to work with and she was so pleased with the results that she wanted to help with the Home Edition show.

"It's been incredible. It really is changing my life, and I wanted to be part of helping this family and help change their lives," Pelletier said.

Gallagher said crews were about 10 hours ahead of schedule Wednesday and on track to put the finishing touches on the home by Saturday.

The Dolans are due home by Sunday to see their new house, and the show is expected to air in five to eight weeks.

[Last modified March 10, 2005, 09:33:14]