A Tale of Two Homes: Indio family in lap of luxury AND Makeover Continues for Indio Widow

Posted Oct. 25, 2008

There are no fights over the single bathroom for the Alvarez family of Indio.

That's because they have three bathrooms that they can use in the three large suites in the Desert Springs JW Marriot Resort and Spa in Palm Desert that they are staying while their home is getting a major makeover thanks to the Marriott properties of the Coachella Valley.

"We are very comfortable, just so relaxed," a beaming Arlene Alvarez, 40, said on Saturday afternoon.

The Alvarez family won the makeover through an essay that Arlene wrote to the City of Indio. Arelene Alvarez is a single mom living with her children and mother in a home that was ravaged by three fires and a lack of air conditioning.

Arlene's daughter Delilah Ramirez, 13, recalled a stretch limo drove up to the home on Thursday to pick the family up.

"It was really nice," she said.

That was the last time that they saw their home. Work continued on the Alvarez residence on the 43300 block of Toltec Court that day.

Work started on Thursday, which included the leveling of a yard and clearing up the trash strewn about, said Danny Young, director of engineering for the Desert Springs.

The Alvarez family's home makeover will include brand new air conditioning, smoke detectors, and a new fence that will block the desert winds so that Alvarez's daughter Selene Ramirez, who has Down Syndrome, can play outside, Young said.

The makeover has been estimated at $30,000 but most of the work has been done through donations from 30 vendors and volunteers from three Marriott properties, Young said.

In the meantime, the Alvarez family is getting treated to room service, dinners in the resort's hotels, trips on the hotel's waterways, and massaes, said Ken Schwartz, Desert Springs general manager.

Arlene Alvarez said her family has been enjoying the room service and her son Junior enjoys playing the Nintendo Wii in the suite.

The Alvarez family's home will be revealed on Tuesday afternoon. Arlene Alvarez said her sister, brother, aunts and lots of friends are going to be there.

"We just want to make a difference in their lives," Schwartz said. "I hope they love everything that we have done."

Keep watching the Indio Sun and mydesert.com/indio for more updates on the "Tale of Two Homes."

Posted Oct. 24, 2008

It's like she died and went to heaven, 64-year-old Theresa Gaston said on Friday.

While Renaissance Esmerelda volunteers are making over Gaston's home this weekend for Make A Difference day, the Indio resident is staying for several days in the Indian Wells resort and spa.

Work continued on Saturday at Gaston's home on the 81600 block of Lido Avenue. The home was vandalized several times and home smells of leaky plumbing.

Terry Venema, director of engineering at Renaissance Esmerelda, is coordinating the efforts at the Gaston residence. The improvements to the Gaston residence will include a new roof, new kitchen appliances, and a fence that will surround the home.

The walls that once had Satanic symbols from vandals will be painted "light brown," Venema said.

In the meantime, Gaston is being treated like a princess, Renaissance Esmerelda manager general manager Bob Walsh said. Gaston is staying in a large hotel suite with potential spa treatments and tasty food from the hotel.

Gaston was smiling on Friday afternoon as she sat on a large sofa in a very spacious hotel room with her niece Kelly Lynch, 35, of Duarte, who came to stay with Gaston. Lynch wrote the essay to the City of Indio that got Gaston the home makeover.

Gaston said she left her home on Friday. She recalled arriving at the hotel and seeing all the hotel managers give her a round of applause.

"This is wonderful," she said. "This is absolutely wonderful."

Lynch said she is excited to try out the hotel's spa. Gaston said she's not a big fan, but she'll go get her nails done.

Gaston said she is enthusiastic about her home's makeover. Lynch said Gaston's relatives plan to be at the home's unveiling on Tuesday afternoon.

Walsh has a message for Gaston when she sees her new home on Tuesday.

"I hope that everyday that you enjoy your new surroundings that you will be able to pass on your kindness to other people as we have done to you," he said.

Keep watching the Indio Sun and mydesert.com/indio for more updates on the "Tale of Two Homes."