I hope Steve Jobs takes an hour off from his busy schedule, looks over the paperwork ONCE AGAIN, and decides to say "BUG OFF" to everyone involved in this ridiculous example of self agrandisment involving architectual arts, and has the entire place RAZED in front of the entire group of cartoon preservationists.
It is junk. Jobs KNOWS it is junk.
He should now take one days earnings, and destroy all of the fantasies about and including this architectual mess while he has maintained an air of dignity and remained a true gentleman while the ladies in the flower print dresses denegrate his superior position.
TEAR IT DOWN and to hell with the trouble makers. Build the small home which you want, Steve. I KNOW they will hate whatever you put up.

At long last, sanity prevails.

But let's never forget that just a few motivated people were able to delay this project for NINE FULL YEARS and cost the homeowner hundreds of thousands - perhaps millions - of dollars in legal fees. All so unnecessary.

Not everyone has the financial resources of Mr. Jobs.

This house is not an historical landmark although it gave "phonies" like Smythe a chance for great pr.

These stereotypical fuddy duddies who say they are interested in the preservation of local landmarks, should put out a pamphlet or leaflet with photos, showing the GOOD they have done for the community.
Frankly, they should be putting their money to good use instead of spending it on experts to determine the value of the remains. It would be wise to use for the education for the children about the MISSIONS from the beginnings of California from the early days, and to educate rather than preserve what cannot qualify as history at this time.

I am so sad that someone like Steve Jobs will get away with destroying a house that clearly comes within the preservation guidelines. He willfully let the house deteriorate after opening up all the doors and windows. It is such a shame and he is getting away with it. I have lost all respect for him as a result.

[Post deleted. Please stay on topic.]

Will someone please point out at least 10 of our local HISTORICAL LANDMARKS that weren't built by missionaries from Spain?
While you think of them, go and photograph them for our readers here.
If they amount to a "hill of beans", I will personally make chili for about 3 people.
IF that old piece of junk were saved, it would be destroyed in a little tremor. There is no OLD MONEY on the Peninsula. Just old people who live in the past. Think HSR.

Yes! This country is so filled with folks who believe that just because they think something should be a certain way then gosh-darnit it is going to be this way.

I feel badly for Mr. Jobs having to deal with this debacle. Mr. Jobs has contributed more to the benefit of our lives than these self-serving folks ever will. Yelling and protesting simply reveals their immaturity.

Tear it down, Mr. Jobs. Thanks for all you have contributed to this world.

A Federal law should be passed in reference to historical landmark lawsuits: Any person or organization objecting to the demolition of what they consider to be a "historical landmark" should be liable for all property taxes during the litigation process.

The almost decade long delay Mr. Jobs experienced, coupled with the expense of litigation, is obscene and should not be allowed in a country run by supposedly intelligent people.

Frank de Jong has the best answer for these old tired and useless suits brought on for negligible and meaningless issues like preservation of lackluster spots; especially during these hard times.
Very selfish old biddies, I am sure.
Organize yourselves to serve the living, the poor, the infirm and the people who built this area from the ground who no longer have the means because of the banking scandals created by your spouses and children and others like you.

Let's not hear anything more about this crazy & long time issue. Far too much space has been taken up & way too much money spent !!!

Mr. Jobs,

Don't you think it is time to change your registration to the political party that believes in individual property rights?

Don't you think it is time to abandon the political party that does not respect individual proeprty rights and wants to choke capitalism through over regulation putting the United States at a competitive disadsvantage with the rest of the world?

Sally -

Actually, not enough light has been shed on this issue.

If you live in a home that was built before 1960 and want to do some remodeling, you should be worried. Homes over 50 years old can be subject to this same kind of review. Do you want some woman from Miami Beach to be able to stop your construction project dead in its tracks?

Then again, maybe you have the time and resources to fight a 10 year, multi-million dollar battle.

Mr. Jobs
You have given more to us that anyone can even begin to understand. I hope you do not take the actions of a few to represent the understandingn and appreciation of most. We all know if it had the history claimed therein, myself along with others would have pitched in funds to move it - simply said it does not. You have been calm and patient while this resolved itself - Kudos to you and shame on others for the fight. Enjoy your new place with full understanding the vast majority of people (90/10 rule) respect you and appreciate you went through the process and waited it out. The 10-% - well as they say - you cannot please all the people all the time

Here's something I don't understand: Why does anyone thank Steve Jobs for what he has "given" to us?

If we need a definition of a capitalist acting in his own interests and for his own benefit, Mr. Jobs would fit well, as would a hundred other chief executives.

By contrast, there are humanitarians out there whose lives are dedicated to giving to others. (Whether they are also acting in their own interests is an interesting question.)

This is not an indictment of Mr. Jobs. His company has broken new ground and set very high standards for product design. That's great for those of us with the money to buy them, and for the cause of good design everywhere. But is that a reason to thank him for having given us something? He has sold us something. There's a difference.

Joe -

Good points, but getting further off topic.

The bigger point here is a few people trying to tell private property owners what they can and cannot do with their homes.

Based on S.J . He is used to getting what He wants , Obviously a Genius

and suffered through Pancreatic Cancer and + as well as treatments that

were not verifiable nor His diagnosis which Honestly is his own personal

business. These situations with Historic Places are never ever easy

I share the same birthday as S.J Picses (not that is important to

non-Astrology interested folks, but I have known two people

(personaly with the same birthday (though not year) and I can tell You

That He will not change. Look up Picses and also get his exac date of

birth year* 2/24 /19xx and go to Astrology.com and get a life reading

its about 10-15 pages and free and see if its like him if You have

dealt with him, there are far far many worse things going on in the

world as well as Heads of Companies He is a Enigma , I read a great

article on the CEO of J.Crew Mickey Drexler and He was on Apple's Board and at the time Mr.Drexler was working at a High Level Position

under The Gaps Legendary Founder Donald Fisher who tried and after several attempts got Mr.Drexler to come aboard (as He had successfully turned aroung Old Navy and then The Gap but in 2002 Steve Jobs' who was on the Board at The Gap and told Mickey DRexler He was going to be fired and in the Article in the June 2010 WSJ Wall Street Journal Magazine He said it was the best thing that happened to him (but he refuses to enter a Gap store to this day (he collected around $350 million dollars cashing in his Gap stock and when Donald Fisher was ill , they did have a nice last conversation (Mr.Fisher passed away in Sept 2009 and Mr.Drexler has a nice relationshio with the family at this point, Mr Fishers Son Robert who has served on The Gaps Board in some capacity since 1990 says theres no benefit in talking about Mickeys Last six months or Year, Its just a small part ofwhat was one of "the" great retail relationships Mickey is now the CEO of The Gap
along with 270 million dollars in J.Crew Stock and options as well as his departure $350 million from The Gap He says I will never have to worry about needing the money (He carries a Iphone and a Blackberry)
owns real estate including Andy Warhols fabled 5.6 acre estate called
Eothen for which he reportedly paid 27 million for in 2007 and is spending millions more to restore (in Montauk, N.Y) right on the water
as well as houses in The Bahamas Harbour Island, Idaho's Sun Valley and three in the Hamptons (of which one is Eothen) though He will not allow any of his homes (interiors ?) to be photographed as He does not want to labeled a "big shot"

I guess I wrote this is how many people in high positions (on The Board of Directors , Presidents of Companies, would tell a friend (in adavance) that they were being Fired Steve Jobs did do that and to me
thats Character .

Info from being a Long Time Mac -Apple user and from the great Wall Street Journal Magazine Aricle from the June 2010 issue.

Peace I Hope You all find its there...
David

Property rights have to mean something.

Sure, it would be nice if the home were preserved. But you want to see that, you should be willing to buy it. Beyond that, I applaud Mr. de Jong's suggestion above.

It is Job's property, so he has the right to do what he wishes with it. No one had the right to prevent him from clearing the property to build new.