Jobs cleared to demolish historic mansion

Apple chief executive Steve Jobs reportedly received the green light from local government officials this week to demolish a historic mansion on his property in Woodside, Calif.

The 1926 Daniel C. Jackling estate was designed by George Washington Smith, the architect who created the look of Montecito and Santa Barbara in the 1920's.

Although Jobs once occupied the house, he's recently sought local authority to demolish the building, which he describes as "one of the biggest abominations of a house I've ever seen."

According to CNet News.com, "The Woodside Town Council held a public hearing Tuesday night to consider the preservationists' appeal of an earlier decision by the town's planning commission in June. In that decision, the commission, noting that there were no historic preservation ordinances on its books, approved the demolition, providing certain contingences were met."

However, Jobs cannot demolish the house until he receives a permit to do so, and in the meantime is required to share the cost of advertising and promoting the donation of the estate to any organization willing to cart it away.

Other homes designed by Smith have reportedly been offered for sale for millions of dollars.