Bush Moves Into New Dallas Home

DALLAS — A month after leaving the White House, former President George W. Bush and his wife, Laura, moved into their new Dallas home Friday.

Bush's motorcade drove past a security barricade in the late afternoon, bringing the former first couple to their new residence: a 1959 ranch-style brick home that sits at the top of a quiet cul-de-sac in a wealthy Dallas neighborhood. Bush waved to a jogger as he rode by, and the jogger waved back.

"President and Mrs. Bush are glad to be back in Dallas, appreciate the warm welcome by their neighbors, and look forward to once again being part of the Dallas community," said Rob Saliterman, a spokesman for Bush's office in Dallas.

The couple's new home has about 8,500 square feet, four bedrooms, four-and-a-half bathrooms and a wet bar. Local property records indicate the home on Daria Place is worth about $2.1 million.

The house has a wide front yard and dark shutters, with a gate at the top of the driveway that affords some privacy. The Dallas City Council last month approved installation of a security gate that will eventually block access to the street. There are about half a dozen homes on the cul-de-sac.

Dallas police and Secret Service agents have set up a barricade in recent days limiting access to the neighborhood. They have even turned away delivery vans; packages must be dropped off with security personnel, who hand-deliver them.

The home is in the Preston Hollow area of Dallas, home to some of Texas' wealthiest residents and most expensive homes. Some front lawns have sported "W" signs. Others have signs saying "Welcome home George & Laura."

An elementary school just around the block from the Bushes had a banner displayed outside Friday saying "Kindergarten welcomes President Bush and family."

Bush, the former managing partner of the Texas Rangers in suburban Arlington, will count among his neighbors Tom Hicks, the baseball team's current owner. Hicks owns a 29,000-square-foot mansion and large property adjacent to the cul-de-sac, according to property records.

Other neighborhood homeowners include Mark Cuban, who owns the Dallas Mavericks basketball team, billionaire businessman T. Boone Pickens, Republican donor Harold Simmons and recently retired Exxon Mobil CEO Lee R. Raymond.

Laura Bush has been staying in Dallas for at least the last few days and has been spotted at area restaurants. The former president has been staying at his ranch in Crawford, about 95 miles south of Dallas. His motorcade drove up from the area Friday, stopping at Bush's Dallas office before continuing to the new home.

It's a homecoming of sorts for the Bushes, who lived in Dallas from December 1988 through January 1995, before moving to the Texas governor's mansion in Austin. Laura Bush is a graduate of nearby Southern Methodist University, which will house her husband's presidential library and think tank.

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AP Photographer Tony Gutierrez contributed to this report.

Comments

[biwee]

f you don't think Bush should be in a prison now, vice a $2 million house, then you have not been paying attention for the past 8 years.

[JessWonderin]

Won't be long and we will have reports of George spotted wandering onto the neighbor's properties choppin' down rose bushes and hedges, mumbling about "brush, brush, damn brush . . ."

[2008CaliforniaFan]

Somebody in the W H or the DNC needs to get out there and tell America that Bush's Neighbor/Friend is the Billionaire that is running the the TV Ads through A..I..P. saying that Obamas Plan will Fail.
You know Bush is in on this Plan as well. The man still wants to harm this Country .
Read about Simmons below.
http://blogs.dallasobserver.com/unfairpark/2008/08/dallas_billionaire_harold_simm.php
B oos_h is ' S T I L L 'acting evil and petty. He wants to harm us.

[Vanity357]

There goes the neighborhood. Alright people, new deal for you. We will keep Gov. Rick "The Hair" Perry here if you all keep a Dem in the White House. I am willing to take a hit for the team on this one.

[booboo111]

Did anyone else "lose another meal" looking at the photo of the monkey boy grinning, while America burns?

[JanPoore]

Just what Dubya needs - a wet bar. Interesting that the writer felt the need to mention that.

[SEQUOIABISON]

Let me know when he moves to San Quentin.

[Yermammy]

Or the SuperMax in Colorado. I'm not picky though. :)

[holeybuybull]

I hope the "security gate" is used to keep him confined to the neighborhood. He thinks it's for his protection. I think it's for ours.

[Yermammy]

Ankle bracelet would be apt.

[Sam 32]

Thank you and God bless you President Bush!

[JessWonderin]

You either have a sick sense of humor or must be EXTREMELY wealthy . . . . the alternative is TOO sad to contemplate . . . .

[Cambridge9]

HUH??

[wpiv926]

We won't be seeing much of Bush anytime soon. The repubs will try to keep him out of sight, so America won't be reminded who and what party was responsible for our current misery.

[SnapShots]

If our justice system has anything to do with it, we'll be seeing lots of Bush and his cronies. Neighborhood T.V. viewing parties will organize to watch it all come crashing down.

[Tom Payned]

This headline is only 8 years to late.

[JudgeJudy]

AMEN!

[jweider]

Everybody in America should mail him a shoe. It would be hilarious to see those security personnel hand delivering each one.

[petphotos]

Now, THAT is a great idea!!

[booboo111]

I second that. What's the address? And make sure he has to sign for it. I think if you just put George Bush c/o Preston Hollow neighborhood, with return receipt, the P.O. is obligated to attempt to find the correct address and deliver it. I'm sending the funkiest oldest sneaker I have.

[TheWanderer]

It should be his new home in guantanamo.

[jweider]

I'll bet the wet bar was the feature that closed the deal on that property.

[Zoe1]

lol I bet you're right! He can sit in his million dollar mansion-- watching TV, eating pretzels and boozing it up for all I care. I'm just glad he is gone.

[BPCentrisAmerican]

Good maybe we can keep an eye on this criminal for future trials for a war against the American middle people. He did as much damage to this country, as any petty dictator on his governments to take out hit list.

[Harry Scrote]

As his over lord would say, "So?"

This guy should be in ja il, the clink, pri son.