[Source: Glen Creno, Arizona Republic] -- A modernistic Phoenix house first owned by the late political heavyweight Burton Barr is for sale for $1.195 million. The nearly 2,500 square foot house (pictured) was commissioned by Barr and designed by noted architect Al Beadle. The low-slung place has big windows, custom cabinets and Beadle's trademark carport. The home's architectural details are intact and Beadle's original drawings - showing the house's asymmetrical, winged shape - come with the house. "It's totally original," said Roger Williams, the Russ Lyon agent listing the house. "It still has the original Formica, all the wood, all the cabinetry." Barr was well known in Arizona politics. He served in the Arizona House of Representatives for 22 years. For 20 of those years, he was the Republican majority leader and acknowledged master of steering legislation and legislators. He lost the 1986 GOP gubernatorial primary to Evan Mecham, who was elected, then later impeached. Barr died in 1997. His name is memorialized on the Burton Barr Central Library in Phoenix. The house is east of State Route 51 and north of Bethany Home Road in Phoenix. Williams said he thinks Barr lived in the house into the late '60s, maybe into the early '70s. The current owners, Stephen and Amy O'Meara, are looking for a place that will accommodate a larger studio. Stephen O'Meara is a sculptor and silversmith. Amy declined to say what her husband paid for the house but said he bought it about 10 years ago "when real estate was crashing in Arizona." The house has been listed for about a month. There have been some lookers but no offers. The couple think the house will sell. Amy said that about six times a year, someone leaves a business card on their front door telling them to get in touch if they decide to sell. "This is a really interesting time in history," Amy said. "There's a revival of 1950s retro cool going on. People really are appreciating it more than they did 10 to 20 years ago."
