Mansion Impossible? : Be It Ever So Narrow, the Bushes’ Houston Lot <i> Could </i> House a Residence Fit for an Ex-President

It wasn’t a political bombshell. More like a political cherry bomb. But it made waves all the same.

During the hoopla of the Republican National Convention, a group of President Bush’s critics took reporters to a lot he owns in an upscale Houston neighborhood and charged that Bush uses it as a tax dodge.

Bush, to fortify his claim of Texas residence, had signed an affidavit in 1985 stating that he intends to return to Houston when he retires and to build a house on that lot. His critics say it’s just a way to avoid state income tax. If he’s officially a Texas resident, he pays state income tax there, not in Maine, where he keeps house at Kennebunkport. And Texas has no income tax.

It’s far-fetched to think Bush will ever live on the lot, his critics say, because it’s only 33 feet wide. Taking into account the required setbacks, the house could only be 13 feet wide. They call it “unbuildable.”

At The Times’ request, Newport Beach architect Brion S. Jeannette, who specializes in big-ticket custom homes on difficult sites, viewed the problem. During his 20 years of work, he’s built houses with garage-top heliports, with underground bowling alleys and pistol ranges, with complete theaters. Now he’s designing a beachfront house inside a huge, hollowed-out boulder.

But fit a presidential mansion onto a lot the size of two end-to-end tennis courts?

Seated at a conference table with only a pen and paper, Jeannette was concerned about the building width. “Thirteen feet? Geez.” Yes, and 110 feet long, when you subtract the front and rear setbacks. About the proportions of a good cigar.

But an hour later, Jeannette had good news for the President. If he really wants to live on this lot, he can have a 10,000-square-foot mansion with quarters for servants, Secret Service and guests, with walk-in closets, a 15-seat theater, a 14-person dining room, a wine cellar and tasting room, an exercise room, a large, high-security vault and a seven-car garage with room for a stretch limousine for about $3 million.

If he wants to spend a little more (and exert his influence with the neighbors), he can have a rooftop heliport.

If 10,000 square feet is too meager, he can have more space. Two of this house’s five levels are underground, and if waterproofed to fend off Houston’s high water table, levels could be added there.

“When you go underground, it opens up some things,” Jeannette said. “I can build below grade virtually to the property lines. Zoning restricts construction above grade.

“So you decide what types of functions don’t need to be above ground, don’t need sunlight or natural ventilation. Parking, pistol ranges, swimming pools--there’s a whole range of things you can do underground.” All you need is money.

Because the President has officially declared his intention to retire there, presumably money will be no object. “It’s possible to build there, and I’m quite astounded that it is,” Jeannette said.

If Jeannette’s design were built, this is how the home of George and Barbara Bush at 9 West Oak Drive South in Houston, would appear:

You turn off Post Oak Road onto West Oak Drive South into a small tract of large, suburban homes on large lots.

The third house on the left stands out as different. It’s a classic little New England saltbox, tall and narrow, with clapboard sides and shingle roof, sitting 40 feet back from the street. A meandering path leads to a traditional front porch. These people must be from Maine, you say.

You identify yourself through the intercom at the fence, the electric gate swings open, and you descend along a steep driveway to the underground parking garage. Just before you disappear below ground, you notice that thick vegetation and fences conceal the sight of this cute little saltbox extending back nearly 40 yards.

You park and are escorted to the center of the garage and the spiral staircase that extends all the way through the house’s five levels. You decide instead to take the glass elevator that runs up the center of the spiral.

One floor above--the ground floor--you are welcomed and taken to the living room at the front of the house. On the way, you pass the dining room with its unusually long, narrow table and buffets. The bow windows in both the dining and living rooms make the narrow rooms seem more spacious.

You’re offered a tour of the house and see the kitchen and family room that make up the rest of this floor. Bow windows on three sides of the family room look out onto a tree-shaded lawn.

Upstairs, you see the master bedroom and a guest bedroom. You’re told there are two more guest bedrooms and maid’s quarters in the loft above, but the Secret Service is using most of the space. You assume you’ll be staying at a motel tonight.

You take the elevator to the bottom floor, two levels underground, to see the theater. It can show movies or big-screen TV to 15 people seated in ultra-comfy loungers. A small bar is in the corner to assist in the entertainment.

On the other side of the staircase is the workout room. You can see through the glass wall that it’s impressively outfitted.

A little farther on is the door to the wine-tasting room. Once inside, one door leads to the wine cellar, the other to a bank-style vault.

You’re impressed.

You should be. Putting 10,000 square feet of floor space on this misshapen lot would be expensive--in Jeannette’s words, “very, very expensive.” Today it would cost about $3 million, he said. On a normal site, you could build a luxurious custom house nearly twice as large for the same money.

According to financial disclosure reports, the Bushes paid old friends John C. and Barbara S. Fitch $50,009 for the lot, a 33-foot slice of the Fitches’ property that originally was 111 feet wide.

Filed with the deed is an agreement that before the Bushes build on the lot, the Fitches may buy it back by paying “fair market value.” The agreement also includes a pledge to move the property line between their lots “in order to reasonably accommodate their mutual development plans.”

According to the White House press office, the Bushes “have yet to decide” what they’ll do with the lot. But according to Jeannette, building a nice, big house is an option, though a difficult and expensive one.

“This was a fine exercise,” Jeannette said. “At first I thought, ‘This is silly.’ I expected to come up with something that was cornball and camp. But it really is doable. Let him know I’d be tickled to work with him.”