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Twitter co-founder under fire over plans to demolish historic $3million San Francisco house and replace it with eco home

from dailymail.co.uk/news

By James Nye

Twitter co-founder Evan Williams has managed to rile his neighbours in the affluent San Francisco suburb of Parnassus Heights for wanting to knock down his historic $3 million home.
The social-media multi-millionaire wants to replace his house on Edgewood Avenue with a 'zero-net energy' home and his neighbour's are bitterly opposed to his plans.
More than 240 objections to his planning application to tear down his Louis Christian Mullgardt designed 5,000 square-foot home and replace it with a 7,700 foot property boasting solar panels and a green grassed roof have been lodged.

Evan Williams historic 97-year-old home in the affluent San Francisco suburb of Parnassus Heights

'This is such a unique property and it adds diversity of architectural interest to the neighborhood,' said one comment from neighbor Elizabeth Wang which was reported by the San Francisco Examiner.
'It would be criminal to demolish it.'

 

Another named Anthony said that while he is against the demolition, he won’t participate in any attempt to 'bully' the Williams family as others had intimated.
'The neighbors against this have made it clear when passing out these petitions that they plan to be 
unhospitable and threatening,' said Anthony.

Twitter CEO Evan Williams has provoked the ire of his neighbours in San Francisco

The current home is three stories and boasts stunning views of the San Franciso skyline, four bathrooms, four bedrooms, a gazebo, parking for four cars and is home to his wife and two young children

The skyline of San Francisco is visible from the top of the home that Evan Williams wants to demolish

More than 240 objections to his planning application to tear down his Louis Christian Mullgardt designed 5,000 square-foot home and replace it with a 7,700 foot property boasting solar panels and a green grassed roof

The house was never intended to be a home for Evan Williams and his family

The gated home was built by well-known architect Louis Christian Mullgardt

Williams's new home would be 7,700 square feet, while the current enclave is 5,000 square feet

'Edgewood Avenue is a brick-lined street that features a large number of Arts and Craft homes from the early 1900s. 226 Edgewood Avenue clearly contributes in a significant way to the beauty of this unique street and its history.'

According to San Franciso records, Williams, 40, bought the property for almost $3 million in January 2011.
The current home is three stories and boasts stunning views of the San Franciso skyline, four bathrooms, four bedrooms, a gazebo, parking for four cars and is home to his wife and two young children.
'A complete teardown of such a home would be a precedent for our extended neighborhood and would set the stage for numerous future demolitions that will alter the character of our beloved S.F. Neighborhoods,' neighborhood group Friends of Parnassus Heights wrote to local real estate blog SocketSite.

According to San Franciso records, Williams, 40, bought the home for almost $3 million in January 2011

The property boasts four bedrooms and four bathrooms and a gazebo

One neighbor wrote that 'it would be criminal' to tear down the house

'Edgewood Avenue is a brick-lined street that features a large number of Arts and Craft homes from the early 1900s. 226 Edgewood Avenue clearly contributes in a significant way to the beauty of this unique street and its history.'
However, it seems that Williams never purchased the home with any intention of living there and have charged architectural firm Lundberg Design with the design of their proposed home.
'They’ve dreamed of being in this neighborhood,' said Olle Lundberg, owner of Lundberg Design. 'They’re in this for the long term. I think they’re psychologically ready.'
According to Planning Department spokeswoman Joanna Linsangan, planners are set to review the demolition and construction plans later this month.