'Extreme Makeover' in store for Mid-Michigan farmhouse

INGHAM COUNTY (WJRT) -- (09/28/08)--A historic farmhouse was crushed to bits just south of Lansing, and only one team on television could do it -- none other than ABC's "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition."

Hundreds of volunteers and construction crews marched to an 1860s Ingham County farmhouse to begin tearing it down Sunday.

The home is owned by Arlene Nickless, a widow with three small children.  Her husband, Tim, was a nurse who contracted Hepatitis C while treating a patient.

When he died in January, she was left with no job, three young sons and a house that's falling apart.  They had plans to restore it before Tim passed away.

"The dining room floors are sinking," said Arlene. "The basement is flooding. The floors are weakened. It's in pretty bad shape."

The family's life changed in an instant following a knock on their door Friday morning.  They were whisked off to Disney World so that the crew could get busy turning the old farmhouse into a new 3,200-square-foot dream home.

"I just want to thank everyone in advance from the deepest, utmost part of our hearts," Arlene said on Friday.  "But most of all thank God, as I put it in His hands from all of this."

While "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" may look spontaneous, it's carefully choreographed.

Crews spent the morning clearing out the home before the house was demolished.  Neighbors watched from across the street, including one woman who grew up in the house.

Some members of the design team said the demolition phase is their favorite, but the hard part comes next.  After clearing the debris, the crew will pour the foundation, put up the framing and build the new house -- real quick.

The public is invited to watch them reveal the new home when they say, "Move That Bus" this Friday afternoon.

The public is invited to attend any day, but especially Friday.

To visit the site, coming from Flint, take I-69 west to the Lansing area, then take 127 south through Lansing.

Then take 96 west toward Grand Rapids. Get off at exit 104, Cedar Street.

Then make a left on Cedar to the Holiday Inn Lansing on the right side of road. Park in back of Holiday Inn where you'll see a white tent.

Take the free shuttle bus from there to the site on Eifert west of Willoughby. It's less than 2 miles away.

Click here for more Mid-Michigan and Flint news

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local, joel feick

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