Plan still faces legal opposition

San Mateo County Superior Court Judge Marie Weiner has upheld a 2009 decision that had allowed Apple CEO Steve Jobs to raze his historic mansion located in Woodside, CA, according to the San Jose Mercury News. Jobs in 2004 first received permission to demolish the home, however a group of preservationists, Uphold Our Heritage, sought to have the approval overturned.

The 30-room, 17,250-square-foot dwelling, known as the Jackling House, was built 85 years ago by the architect George Washington Smith. Uphold Our Heritage claims the home, representing Spanish Colonial Revival style, is an important part of Californian history.

Jobs once referred to the house as an "abomination," while claiming that restoration would be impractical. The iconic CEO plans to build a smaller, more environmentally-friendly home on the six-acre lot.

“The (California Environmental Quality Act) defects identified in the original permit and (environmental impact report) approval, namely lack of cost comparison to support a finding of economic infeasibility, have been addressed and rectified...,” said Weiner.

Despite the court decision, Jobs still must obtain a demolition permit. Uphold Our Heritage currently has 60 days to appeal the decision, posing yet another potential hurdle.

A separate Woodside resident, Magalli Yoho, has expressed a desire to purchase the home and move it to a location 2.3-miles away from its current foundation. The preservationist group is reportedly mulling the possibility of an appeal if Jobs and Yoho cannot negotiate a deal to save the building.

“We’re just waiting to see," Yoho said. "Now that the ruling is out, I’m not sure how that’s going to affect the whole outcome."

by MacNN Staff