Posted on 09/01/2015 9:20:57 AM PDT by COUNTrecount
KENNEBUNKPORT A New England shingle-style house is being built for likely Republican presidential candidate Jeb Bush on his familys compound at Walkers Point.
The two-story, 3,000-square-foot house, which is expected to be finished this summer, is the ninth residential building on the site, and neighbors are taking it in stride.
photo-store
The Boston Globe reported Sunday that the house referred to as a cottage in planning documents is estimated to cost $600,000 and sits on a 1.3-acre site assessed by the town at $1.4 million.
Locals, many of whom only reluctantly talk about their presidential neighbors to protect their privacy, say they are just glad the Bushes appear to be strengthening their roots in this seaside town by making room for future generations of the family.
I didnt have a clue who it was for, said Kathy Anuszewski, owner of Port Lobster Co., which is about a mile away from Walkers Point on Ocean Avenue.
The home is being built by Terry Philbrick Building and Remodeling Inc. of Kennebunkport, a three-generation contractor for the Bush family. Philbrick built a similar, smaller, two-story house on the point in 2013 for Marvin Bush, the youngest son of former President George H.W. Bush and Barbara Bush. Construction photos of that building, designed by a Virginia architectural firm, are on Philbricks Facebook page.
The cottage for Jeb Bush, a former governor of Florida, was designed by Wells architect Kristi Kenney of KW Architects.
She said Sunday that designing a house for such a politically prominent family was an intimidating assignment but one that has gone smoothly.
It is very scary, but I am very honored to be able to work with them, Kenney said in a telephone interview.
Kenney said the idea was to keep the design simple and match the other eight residential buildings on the compound, which was bought by the 41st presidents great-grandfather in the late 19th century.
And we wanted to take advantage of the views, which are amazing from every window, said Kenney.
The biggest building on the compound is the 7,100-square-foot, 12-room house built in 1920 that dominates Walkers Point. Jeb Bushs house is the second largest on the property. It is supposed to be finished sometime in July, said Kenney.
Kenney said she mainly worked with family intermediaries on the design and did not know how much direct involvement Jeb Bush who owns one other home, in Coral Gables, Florida has had on the project. She said she does know his daughters-in-law helped make some decorating decisions, such as paint colors and lighting.
Patricia Taylor, who lives near the Bush compound and was walking her golden Lab, Andros, on Sunday afternoon on Ocean Avenue, said she doesnt have an opinion about the Jeb Bush house. She said as long as the new building blends in, it doesnt matter to her what the Bushes do.
As long as it is done well, she said.
Tourists who had stopped Sunday at a popular parking area that overlooks Walkers Point said they were unaware that the new house was destined for Jeb Bush. The house, which is about halfway shingled, appears to be almost complete on the outside.
Lenny Drury of New Orleans said he was surprised at the understated style of the entire compound.
I have seen some fancier places than this, said Drury, a Republican who said Jeb Bushs new summer cottage would have absolutely no influence on his vote.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1DzqBthBamw
Odd color scheme on the right—but to each his own, I guess.
How many illegals live in Kennebunkport?
Jeb doesn’t mind them living with the rest of us.
Feast your eyes on the rough terrain.
They don't live there...just commute to perform their daily acts of love at subpar wages for the Arbusto familia.
The family must be worried that Jeb could end up homeless.
Under construction.
A place to relax when he is president, no doubt.
That’s the underboard, silly. The shingles will put on later.
Well, SOMEBODY will rent it for a summer home then.
:)
“Jeb doesnt mind them living with the rest of us.”
Wasn’t his wife and father-in-law illegal?
Thanks! I didn’t know that. When we built our present home, it didn’t have under boards, as I recall.
Okay.
Sadly, with ocean levels rising all over the place, their compound will soon be under water.
How many illegals live in Kennebunkport?
Jeb doesnt mind them living with the rest of us.
Wonder if there’s a gate, or any type of fence on the property. That wouldn’t be very *loving* of Bush, to try and keep folks here illegally out, would it?
“There will be at least one Mexican woman there .... LEGALLY.”
Do we even know for sure she’s legal?
We certainly know where her loyalties lie...the Arbusto familia dinero followed by Mexico. Los Estados Unidos is just an inconvenience to her.
A young man who used to work in our office (his family was from Houston with Enron and Iowa/Nebraska prior) was the best friend of a son of one of George H W Bush’s cabinet secretaries. He visited and stayed at the Kennebunkport compound more than once, had good memories from his trips there. He said both ex-Presidents were very cordial and warm, likeable.
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