Celine to build new home on Jupiter Island

Posted June 22, 200718 yr

Celine Dion to build new home on Jupiter Island

By JOE CRANKSHAW

Posted June 21 2007, 7:00 AM EDT

JUPITER ISLAND -- Singing sensation Celine Dion, known for the theme song in the movie "Titanic," has begun work on a $3.2 million home on Jupiter Island, officials confirmed Wednesday.

The 9,800-square-foot home at 215 South Beach Road will replace a slightly smaller home on the 3.7 acre site, said Jeff Newell, town building official.

Dion and her husband, Rene Angelli, bought the property from F. Morgan and Barabra Taylor for $12.5 million in 2005. The sale was made under the name of their Canadian firm, Renlec Enterprises, Inc.

"They have already torn down the old home and are preparing the ground," Newell said. "They have had all the permit for a few months and have met all our land development regulations."

Newell said the home will have six bedrooms, 40 windows on the beachside and will be shaped like a cross. Other features will include an underground garage for four vehicles, a wine cellar and an office. There will also be a $1.1 million guest house with four suites, a $600,000 beach cabana, parking for 14 vehicles and two Olympic-size swimming pools.

"The underground parking garage is not unique," Newell said. "The last three or four homes we have approved have underground garages. You can do it if you are building on a dune that stands 21 feet above sea level."

Dion, 39, told reporters as early as 2005, that she liked the area because of the quality of the schools in which her 6-year-old son Rene Charles would be educated. She also made the news this week, when her song "You and I" was selected as the theme song for Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign.

The singing star's decision to sell her and her husband's home in Jupiter and move to Jupiter Island is bringing more publicity to a community that has historically tried to avoid the limelight.

Dion is not the only celebrity to select the island as a home, but following golfer Tiger Woods' decision last year to buy a home on the island, the community has received a lot of attention.

Residents -- there are now about 700 -- managed that by controlling who would be allowed to buy on the island. In the early days, purchase of land was contingent upon acceptance of a member to the Jupiter Island Club. A person might buy land on the island, but would not find a friendly community.

Singer Perry Como, for example, was internationally known and loved, but he couldn't buy on the island and actually lived in Jupiter Inlet Colony in northern Palm Beach County. Como was allowed to play on the town golf course.

"You can't do that anymore," Newell said.

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