MnDOT commissioner buys new home -- from Queen Elizabeth
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Minnesota's Department of Transportation commissioner is mounting a Canadian takeover.
Charlie Zelle confirmed Wednesday he purchased a five-bedroom, five bathroom Minneapolis lakeshore home that has been the Canadian consulate general official residence.
Records show Charles and Julie Zelle paid $1.65 million with the seller listed as "Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth."
The Zelles will now sell their current Minneapolis home, which assessment records value at $2 million. He made his fortune from a family-owned commercial bus lines.
Zelle spokesman Kevin Gutknecht says the home's ownership history "was not an incentive to buy it. It was just an interesting story to go along with the house."
A Canadian consulate spokesperson didn't return messages about the sale or future residence plans.
Minneapolis stands to gain because the home had been property-tax exempt.
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