Exactly what I was thinking, I'd consider myself pretty financially solid but $50k would ruin me. I'm assuming the OP was doing renovations of some kind already and had the cash on hand, or at least the majority of it.
And, perhaps that's what they did: http://www.jefftk.com/donations
* We didn't know how much it would cost as it went; it was pay-as-you-go.
* That would make it hard to buy a house in the future.
* I don't like the idea of walking away and making it their problem.