Jobs wins Woodside battle

Steve Jobs has won the right to demolish his 14-bedroom mansion in Woodside, California, the town's council has decided. Reports say that the council voted six-to-one in favor of Jobs' plan, which -- short of a last-minute legal intervention -- should see the destruction of Jackling House, a Spanish-style structure originally built for copper mining giant Daniel Jackling in 1925. Preservationists have argued that the mansion is a part of California history, and should be restored rather than torn down.

"It’s an unfortunate thing that Mr. Jobs doesn’t like the house," according to Woodside mayor Peter Mason, an architect and the lone dissenter in the town council. "It’s really sad that we’re going to continue to tear down historic resources in this town because they’re old."

Lawyers for Jobs have contended, however, that the costs of restoring Jackling House could be far in excess of those for the Apple CEO's plans, perhaps as much as $5.1 million more. Once the mansion is destroyed, Jobs intends to build a smaller home which is also more environmentally efficient. The Jackling estate was originally acquired in 1984, but mostly abandoned 10 years later when Jobs moved to Palo Alto.

by MacNN Staff