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Strauss-Kahn Moves Into Lavish Townhouse In Tribeca

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) -- Dominique Strauss-Kahn was upgraded Wednesday night -- from a Broadway high-rise to a Tribeca townhouse.

The former International Monetary Fund boss made the quick move a mile away after a judge agreed to his luxury living arrangements. What was waiting for him was waiting for him was three floors of luxury, including a gym and rooftop deck, reports CBS 2's Derricke Dennis.

It happened fast, too.

A half-smiling Strauss-Kahn was ushered out of his temporary lower Manhattan apartment at 71 Broadway on Wednesday night after nearly a week of house arrest, 24-hour security, a crush of media and anxious neighbors waiting for any movement.

After 7 p.m., it finally happened.

"We get our building back, and our life back," neighbor Krista Brady said.

1010 WINS' Kathleen Maloney has more on Strauss-Kahn's move to Tribeca

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Strauss-Kahn, who is free on $1 million bail following his May 14 arrest for sexual assault inside the posh Sofitel hotel, moved from the Financial District to Tribeca, inside a pricey, $14 million, three-story townhouse on Franklin Street. Cameras captured security guards moving bags in, for the long haul.

Inside, there's a spectacular floor plan – four bedrooms, four and a half baths. Fine finishes everywhere, including a state-of-the-art home theatre, a magnificently modern European kitchen, a full-scale home gym and even a kid's bathroom with a TV at the tub. There is another room glowing with a custom skylight, leading to an expansive roof-top deck, overlooking Tribeca.

"We're used to publicity around here -- Tribeca Film Festival, lot of celebrities live around here. I think it's just another part and parcel of the neighborhood," new neighbor John Donis said.

Residents on the block appear indifferent to the former head of the IMF and now an accused sexual predator moving in to a vacant home, on the market.

Neighbor Jane Bradbury told Dennis she thinks Strauss-Kahn was the first tenant after the owner.

Bradbury and her toddler live just across the street, and say in this area of movie makers and money moguls, Strauss-Kahn being on home detention might have gone unnoticed if not for the international media.

"It's unusual," Bradbury said.

Strauss-Kahn had been under temporary house arrest in an apartment in Lower Manhattan.

The one-time French presidential contender was jailed for about a week in New York City following his arrest. A hotel maid said he sexually assaulted her in his hotel room. Strauss Kahn's attorneys have said he's not guilty.

Strauss-Kahn left Rikers Island last Friday.

The former IMF leader will have to wear an electronic monitor – and have at least one armed guard nearby.

(TM and Copyright 2011 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2011 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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