For years, political skeptics have contended that the White House is for sale. And in Dallas it is.
OK, so it’s not the one on Pennsylvania Avenue, and residency in this house doesn’t require any conventions or elections. All it takes is a cool $6.9 million in cash or a really good line of credit.
Although you can’t gaze out the window at the Washington Monument from this house, you can stand on the second-story balcony and survey the pool, tennis courts and the estate’s 3.3-acre grounds.
And there’s more.
This red-bricked replica of Washington’s real deal is on Strait Lane in Preston Hollow, just down the street from former presidential candidate Ross Perot.
The property is the home of Jayne and Charles G. Hanson III. And it was by detailed design that their house was built to resemble the White House in Washington, D.C.
Although the Hansons have lived in the house for only four years, they are ready to move. Mrs. Hanson said they’re looking at other locations for retirement.
“My husband is retired and neither of us are native Texans,” said Mrs. Hanson, who added they might consider a home in Southern California to be near relatives.
“I’ll probably shed a big, gigantic tear the day we move. I hope the people who move in love the house the way it is. I hope they appreciate it for what it is.”
While the exterior is a replica of the White House, sans the white paint, the interior is not. The inside was intended to be the couple’s home, Mrs. Hanson said.
The exterior was not painted white, because it would disguise the intricate detailing of arches and peaks over the windows, she said, adding that architectural details for the house were taken from history books and photographs.
Inside, four of the five bedrooms were designed with the red, blue, green and gold themes of the White House’s reception rooms. In some of the five full bathrooms, footed tubs were installed too for a historic feel, she said.
But there is another difference: “We don’t charge anyone to stay over,” she joked, referring to political donors who have spent the night in the Lincoln Bedroom.
Realtor Ellen Terry, who lists the property, said the quality and craftsmanship in the 17,000-square-foot house is exquisite. And its style does make it unique, she said.
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“I think it’s very unusual; it is a replica of one of the most famous buildings in the United States,” said Terry. “Because of the notoriety of the White House, this makes it a very interesting and sought-after residence.”
Many of the rooms feature chandeliers and, Mrs. Hanson said, more than 11 tons of plaster were used for the ornate moldings and ceiling medallions.
She designed the house with his and her offices, so there’s no replica of the Oval Office. But to keep the mood, she had an oval ceiling treatment added to the downstairs den.
“I just like elegant, formal living,” Mrs. Hanson said. “I wanted it to be elegant.”
The house has been on the market for more than a year, Mrs. Hanson said. But with this being a presidential election year, who can tell what will happen?
So how do you replace such a special home, designed with loving detail?
Mrs. Hanson said she might have an idea: “I’ve always admired the Paris opera house.”