Inside Steve Jobs' abandoned Jackling mansion

[Feraud]

Some guys do not have the money for historic preservation.

By Sam Oliver
Apple chief executive Steve Jobs stayed home last night to catch up on some much needed rest while his attorney made another go at convincing a local review board that he should be free to demolish a historic but abandoned mansion -- seen in these rare photos -- that has fallen into a state of disrepair.

Jobs has been petitioning for the right to raze the 14-room, 17,250-square-foot structure in California's Woodside woods for eight years so that he can erect a smaller, contemporary style home for his family.

The Jackling House, so it's called, was built back in 1925 for copper mining mogul Daniel Jackling. Preservationists have opposed Jobs' efforts, arguing that it represents one of the few remaining examples of a Spanish Colonial Revival style home and is therefore too historic to destroy. They also allege that Jobs, who reportedly lived in the house sometime between the 80's and 90's, intentionally let the house fall apart so that it would be easier to justify a case for tearing it down.

"I don't think he would be strong enough if we were here until 1 a.m., and I think there's a strong possibility of that," Jobs' attorney Howard Ellman told the Woodside Town Council on Tuesday, referring to the health issues that have forced the Apple co-founder into a temporary leave from his leadership role at the company through June.

Indeed, reports the Palo Alto Daily News, the review board was still hearing arguments at 10:30 in the evening from both preservationists like the Uphold Our Heritage organization, that has once overturned Jobs' permit to demolish the structure, as well as locals who side with his property rights.

As part of his latest effort to persuade the council on Jobs' behalf, Ellman presented a detailed cost analysis showing that it would take $13.3 million to restore the mansion, or more than $5 million more than it would cost Jobs to simply get rid of it and build a new one. An appeals board had previously suggested such a sum would be sufficient grounds for Jobs to move forward.

Still, preservationists and former residents maintained Tuesday that all resources to preserve the house haven't been exhausted. They're now proposing that Woodside commission an independent firm to draw up the costs of carefully dismantling the dilapidated structure so it can be relocated and then resurrected. A decision on the matter is expected at a later meeting, according to the Palo Alto Daily News.

A couple of years ago, photographer Jonathan Haeber stumbled upon the Jackling house to find its property gate ajar and the doors and broken windows to the house wide open. Below are a series of rare, and at times spooky, photos of the moldering mansion which has now been abandoned for over a decade.

Click the link for more photos.
http://www.appleinsider.com/article...e_jobs_abandoned_jackling_mansion_photos.html

 

[Laura Chase]

Jobs, that's not cool, man! Looking at Apple's design, and knowing how particular he is about the whole thing, he's definitely a white modernism, minimalism kind of guy. That type of architecture is not his style anyway, so if he just had the intention of demolishing it, why the heck buy it in the first place?

 

[J. M. Stovall]

I'm very disappointed in Mr. Jobs, but I'm still going to have to use his products.

 

[Tomasso]

so if he just had the intention of demolishing it, why the heck buy it in the first place?

For the property....... LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION.

 

[J.J. Gittes]

Such a cool house, I'd love to live there! I hope they don't allow him to raze it to build a *white box* called a home. Can't judge it completely from photos but it doesn't seem horrible. 5 extra million is going to really set him back right!

In the words of Little Edie of Grey Gardens " All it needs is a coat of paint!" lol

 

[shortbow]

Stevo, you're off my Christmas list. And so is any of your lousy, plastic stuff.

 

[Story]

Jobs pulled this stunt?

Qu'elle surprise.

 

[scotrace]

It has been in and out of the news for years. I wish he'd save it or sell it to someone who would. But as Tomasso said, he no doubt bought it for the location, and has plans for something more his liking. I believe he has tried to sell it for moving, and has tried to strike various deals.

 

[davestlouis]

This is a guy whose whole business is built around "instant obsolescence", as soon as you bought something, a newer, better version comes out. I can't imagine he has much regard for history or "old stuff".

That style of architecture isn't to my liking, and would look really odd in the midwest, but it is still a noteworthy structure. I wonder if there are any good pics of the home during its prime.

 

[Sleepy LaGoon]

It may actually be moved to a new location:

http://www.mercurynews.com/breakingnews/ci_12815512

Or, maybe not.

 

[Mike in Seattle]

That story (photographing it, carefully dismantling it & storing until a new site could be found) has been floated for years. If the citizens group thinks it so important to save, and poor Steve says it'll cost $6 million more to restore it as opposed to rebuilding, I think the historic group should come up with the $6 million to help out. Everyone put their money where their mouth is.

 

[Tiller]

That story (photographing it, carefully dismantling it & storing until a new site could be found) has been floated for years. If the citizens group thinks it so important to save, and poor Steve says it'll cost $6 million more to restore it as opposed to rebuilding, I think the historic group should come up with the $6 million to help out. Everyone put their money where their mouth is.

I'd have to say that I agree with you on this one.

 

[LouieGee]

How awful to want to demolish it!!! That house could be amazing if it were properly restored!

 

[Feraud]

Everyone put their money where their mouth is.

True. Yet in an ironic twist I cannot help think we have already put enough of our money in Steve Jobs's mouth through that company of his.. lol
Can the guy really not spare a measly 6mm?

 

[hailey greenhat]

so if he just had the intention of demolishing it, why the heck buy it in the first place?

Have you seen the lack of lawn in california homes? This place has so much yard its amazing, knock down the house build a smaller one boom! that much more 'play space for the kids'. Steve i hate you, stop ruining the pretty things with your greed.

 

[Diamondback]

Well, what would you expect from somebody who thinks "style" is those white boxes previously referred to? (Or alternatively a black-and-chrome box once in a while...)



Part of it could be he might be thinking to eventually subdivide and make a mint in real-estate, since the same parcel in CA goes for 10-1000x what it would anywhere else...

 

[Lady Day]

This is a guy whose whole business is built around "instant obsolescence", as soon as you bought something, a newer, better version comes out. I can't imagine he has much regard for history or "old stuff".

I dont get what your interpretation of his company has to do with his personal choice of residence. [huh]


Getting back on point, Steve Jobs is an extreme modernist. From what Ive read on it, he wants to build a smaller, modern, eco sustainable home for his family. Yeah its suckie, but he did buy the property (for the location and land, Im sure) with full intention on getting rid of that house.

Its a HUGE estate Im sure anyone of us would want to restore it and live in it (with 3 other families). But wait, we didnt buy it. :eusa_doh: Its been in limbo for nearly 10 years, and mostly all a property owner has to do is maintain the land so neighbors dont get into a tizzy. Hes been waiting on other organizations to tell him what to do with his own private property. Isnt that just a bit outrageous?

LD

 

[Shangas]

Even if it was restored, that house looks damn ugly. But I suppose if the community really wants it, they should save up the money to restore it themselves, and maybe turn it into a museum.

 

[Mike in Seattle]

True. Yet in an ironic twist I cannot help think we have already put enough of our money in Steve Jobs's mouth through that company of his.. lol
Can the guy really not spare a measly 6mm?

So were they putting money into Steve Job's mouth through his company to give him money to restore derelict buildings...or were they putting it into his company because they felt his product was the best value and best choice for their hard-earned money? It's nobody's business except his what he does with his money. Which of us would really enjoy someone else telling us how to spend our money, and what to spend it on? Would you want someone telling you you couldn't buy a particular hat, or you shouldn't buy a particular outfit?

As others have said, if this was or is such an historic or architecturally valuable commodity, someone should've bought it or founded an organization to buy and restore it. But since nobody is doing that, since nobody's throwing money at the project, it's clearly not worth buying and restoring.

It's the law of supply and demand. Jobs feels it's worth a certain amount as a building site. He's ponied up the money and waited over a decade to be able to build. Since others haven't come up with anywhere near the amount to purchase the property, they've proven its value it far less as it stands or would stand after restoration is far less.

 

[Feraud]

You are taking this way too hard.