Steve Jobs Gets Green Light to Raze 1926 Mansion
By Margaret Foster | Online Only | Mar. 18, 2010
Virginia Jackling told architect George Washington Smith she wanted "just the simplest California-Spanish farmhouse." Charles Lindbergh, Lillian Gish, and Richard Nixon visited the sprawling Jackling House in its heyday.
Credit: Woodside History Committee
UPDATE, 2/15/11: The Jackling House has been demolished.
Apple founder Steve Jobs may get his longtime wish to tear down the historic 1926 Jackling mansion in Woodside, Calif. Last week a Superior Court judge upheld a demolition permit, approved in May 2009, which Jobs spent a decade pursuing.
"Under [California Environmental Quality Act] standards of review by this court, substantial evidence exists in the record supporting the latest decision ... to approve the demolition permit subject to conditions and mitigations," Judge Marie Weiner wrote in her March 8 ruling.
It could still take several months for the Town of Woodside to determine whether conditions and mitigations have been met. Only then could the town issue a demolition permit for the 30-room Spanish Revival house, designed by California architect George Washington Smith for copper baron Daniel Jackling.
In the meantime, Jobs is considering a local couple's offer to relocate the 17,250-square-foot mansion to their property two miles away. Jason and Magalli Yoho said they spoke to Howard Ellman, Jobs' lawyer, last week. (Ellman declined to comment for this article.)
"They're still considering our proposal, which is a good sign," Magalli Yoho says. "Part of me thinks [Jobs] wants to do the right thing. I guess we will know very soon. At least there's an opportunity."
A town-commissioned 2005 report by San Francisco-based Architectural Resources Group conclude that it would be possible to dismantle and move the Jackling House. But before the Yohos to accommodate it on their five-acre property, they would have to deconstruct an existing 1920s residence; Magalli Yoho says that house has been altered so many times that it is no longer historically significant.
The National Trust for Historic Preservation's Western Office, which has been tracking this case for the past decade, has reviewed the Yohos' plan and "supports all creative measures to preserve" the Jackling House, says regional director Anthea Hartig. The San Francisco-based office, along with the California Heritage Foundation, filed amicus briefs last year supporting Uphold Our Heritage, the plaintiff in the suit against Jobs.
Jobs has owned the house since 1984 but has not resided there since the early 1990s. (His last tenants vacated the premises in 2000.) He wants to build a smaller house on the cleared site, and says it would cost $5 million more to retain and restore the deteriorating structure.
Uphold Our Heritage, which sued Jobs to prevent demolition, has 60 days to appeal the Mar. 8 ruling.
The past months have been "a roller coaster ride," says Clotilde Luce, the president of Uphold Our Heritage. "There have been other offers in the past, but this is a very good offer. People ask if we're going to appeal. We're going to appeal to common sense."
Adds Doug Carstens, Uphold Our Heritage's lawyer: "A lot of people are hoping the proposal by the Yohos is going to work, that Steve Jobs is going to agree to it. It's a very sensible proposal."
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Comments
Submitted by restorevt at: March 24, 2010
...another filthy rich jerk with really bad taste! I'll never buy another Apple product, not only are they unreasonably expensive but the founder has no respect for our shared heritage.
Submitted by Andria at: March 24, 2010
Woodside is such a lovely region with so many historic estates that have fallen to the wrecking ball. I hope the Jackling estate can be moved and flouish in a new setting
Submitted by Craig at: March 24, 2010
Mr. Jobs, with his great wealth, could restore this historic house and preserve part of our nation's heritage. He could build his smaller house on another lot. Please, Mr. Jobs, do the right thing and let someone else give this house the TLC it deserves. Recently on the Main Line in Philadelphia, we lost a 193O treasure by the Florida architect Mizner. The coward's who destroyed this masterpiece were too ashamed to be public about it -- they hid behind a phalanx of lawyers who did their dirty work. They were even too vindictive to allow several offers to move the mansion to save it. Why would they want to build a smaller house in an area where all of their neighbors hate them for their selfish action?? I wish them years of unhappiness in their new abode. Years ago, Cincinnati lost historic ROOKWOOD -- a mid 19th century Italianate estate because some "broad" wanted her little dream contemporary built on the site. They were from out of state, and a few years after the demolition and building of the new contemporary dachau -- they moved on!! -- leaving an historic void in Cincinnati.... I hope Steve Jobs has a higher moral character than these two examples of self centered persons with too much money and too little concern for the nation's heritage.
Submitted by jde at: March 24, 2010
I do not understand why Jobs doesn't purchase another piece of property elsewhere--I'm sure money is no object. Is the Jackling mansioin in a staqte of terrible disrepair? As far as I am concerned there is no building that meets any criteria of 'beyond restoration".
Submitted by JDH at: March 24, 2010
I agree with MR - Why not purchase a different piece of property WITHOUT an historic house located on it, and build your dream house there??
Submitted by Pat at: March 24, 2010
I hope it can be saved. I just don't understand why people are allowed to tear historic properties down. In Germany it is never done. Everything is restored or renovated. Even 1000 year old buildings are renovated.
Submitted by Charger at: March 24, 2010
I think Steve Jobs is a genius, but for him to make any argument based on $5 million is absurd. Estimates of his wealth are roughly $5.5 billion, and Apple stock is trading at well over $200/share.
Submitted by Tunnelman at: March 24, 2010
Makes me want to buy more Apple Products.
Submitted by Mara Farrell at: March 24, 2010
Certainly looks like a gorgeous historic house. Can't understand why Mr. Jobs is so intent on bringing it down. It makes so much more sense environmentally and culturally to retain the structure. Hope good sense and good luck prevail here.
Submitted by MR at: March 24, 2010
Hey Steve, here's an idea--why not just buy a smaller house somewhere else?