LeBron's New Crib

[HotCorner]

What unconventional thing would you have built in your dream house?

I would build an indoor go-kart track.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/200...x.html?cnn=yes

Fit for a king

LeBron's house to have theater, bowling alley, casino

Posted: Tuesday March 27, 2007 11:03PM; Updated: Wednesday March 28, 2007 11:31AM

The 35,440-square-foot house under construction in nearby Bath Township is shaping up as a castle fit for a king -- with a theater, bowling alley, casino and barber shop.

The house in a suburban location 20 miles south of Cleveland is due to be finished next year. It is being built on 5.6 acres of land purchased, along with an 11-bedroom house, in 2003 for $2.1 million.

Cleveland Cavaliers All-Star and Akron native, whose stated goal is to be the world's first billionaire athlete, razed the house to clear the way for the new one.

A first-floor master suite, which includes a two-story walk-in closet, will be about 40 feet wide and 56 feet long -- bigger than half the houses in Bath Township.

The house has a dining hall, roughly 27 feet by 27 feet, a "great room" at 34 feet by 37 feet and a bigger, two-story "grand room," according to the Akron Beacon Journal, which reported on the blueprints.
The "family foyer" off the six-car garage near the elevator will be dwarfed by a "grand foyer" inside the front entrance with a sweeping, divided staircase leading to four second-story bedrooms. An outer wall will feature a limestone sculpture -- a bas-relief of LeBron's head, wearing his trademark headband.

The property is an oddly shaped tract wedged among lots that average 2.3 acres and houses that average 3,209 square feet. His property is 300 feet wide at the street and 677 feet deep.

The house already has begun to draw the curious.

"People who come to photograph it are disrespectful," said Tom Bader, one of nine immediate next-door neighbors. "They park their car in the middle of the street -- with their doors open! And you're sitting behind them! All I wanna do is go home after a hard day's work."

Sometimes Bader must wait to turn into his driveway because gawkers have driven up, hoping for a better view of James' place.

"As far as LeBron the man goes, I think he's an outstanding individual," said Bader, a graduate of James' alma mater, St. Vincent-St. Mary High School in Akron.

"He's great for Cleveland. I'm proud to have him. I have no issues with LeBron James at all. The problem is the baggage that he unintentionally carries with him."

Bader has discouraged his children's dream that James might have them over to shoot hoops.

"I said, 'Honey, I don't think that's going to happen. Besides that, don't ever, ever invite LeBron over to our house to play ball because he's going to twist his ankle and I will have my house eternally egged."'

While waiting for the home to be finished, James splits his time between a huge apartment in downtown Cleveland and a relatively modest four-bedroom house in Medina County west of Akron. He paid $580,000 for the house in 2005.

[KronoRed]

Sounds nice.

[sonny]

I't no big deal. I've been in WalMarts bigger than that!

[creek14]

Wonder who is going to have the money to buy that place when LeBron is traded to the Lakers in a couple of years?

[Red Leader]

I think a bowling alley and a theater are essential in houses like these. Instead of a casino, I'd probably put an indoor mini baseball stadium with the OF wall probably 200 ft or so. I think it'd also be cool to put in a laser tag arena in a house.

[zombie-a-go-go]

The world's largest model railroad set. Done.

[Yachtzee]

What, no 50 foot robot that shoots laser beams?

[Unassisted]

Since LeBron is not married, the smart thing to do would be to leave some rooms unfinished so his future wife can put her stamp on the place. Otherwise, that bowling alley is likely to get the heave ho, in favor of a yoga studio.

BTW, a couple of years ago on the local parade of homes, I toured a house that had a detached 2-story gym building in the backyard that included a regulation indoor basketball court with a wood floor and a sports-themed home theater looking down onto the court. The driveway at this place was so long and steep that they had golf carts to ferry visitors between the house and the gym. I should have bought that house.

[Redsland]

Originally Posted by Yachtzee

What, no 50 foot robot that shoots laser beams?

[HumnHilghtFreel]

I don't get the casino and barbershop parts. Does he just call up dealers and barbers whenever he feels like gambling or getting a hair cut or are they always there?

[gonelong]

I'd have a retractable roof over my indoor replica of Crosley Field built specifically for whiffleball. I might have to do Tiger Stadium or something that I could build that would have a few levels for HRs to drop into.

GL

[George Foster]

think about the property tax...:thumbdown