Mystery Owners Buy Home Next to Obama in Chicago
This story is by Kristyn Hartman of CBS 2 in Chicago.
It's a high-profile address on the South Side, right next door to the home owned by Chicago's most famous family. Now it has new owners, which means the Obamas have new neighbors. CBS 2's Kristyn Hartman set out to meet the Chicago family about to live next door to the first family.
Six thousand square feet on lovely South Greenwood, next door to President Barack Obama's Kenwood pad: sold.
Driver Abdin Carrillo asked, "Who bought it?"
Good question. We went to the answer man. Matt Garrison listed the place. He says it went for $1.4 million. As for the Obamas' new neighbors, he couldn't tell us their names.
"The Secret Service says I could tell you, but I'd have to kill you," said Garrison, who also couldn't say what they do for a living.
But he did say, "We looked far and wide for 'em."
And they found them in Chicago. The buyers have big renovation plans, so they won't be moving in right away.
Garrison says they actually had some reservations about buying the home because of the attention the address gets.
"I was just looking to show my son where the President lives," said Marty Burke. "Actually, if you think about it, you can't get too close."
No, you can't. Folks who live in the neighborhood say the signs and the Secret Service keep things pretty private and secure. But they have advice for when Mr. Obama's in town.
"Keep your ID handy," said Jack Wilson.
A Hyde Park resident advised to avoid being too nosy.
Kenyanna Brown said, "I think you have to fight the temptation."
A lot of curious people came through the home-shopping process. The agent says after it went on sale, they got about 100,000 hits on their website, and lots of e-mail - from 12-year-old kids to people from foreign countries. They screened all the potential buyers themselves.
The mystery buyers paid cash.