Seven Oaks, former estate of banker A.P. Giannini, has been saved from the landfill. First by the City of San Mateo who threatened to sue the Giannini estate if they destroyed the house. The estate donated the house to a charity who were threatened by the city when the house needed repairs to the rain damaged struture.

The story unfolds … the 7,000 sq.ft. home was on the market for 10 days with multiple buyers interested and has been sold for above the listed price of $1.4 even though it will take a hefty sum to renovate it.

What a wonderful ending to a story that started with destruction by bulldozer and is ending with a home being saved. Congratulations to San Mateo for saving an historical home (yes Rosalie some people do care about their historical homes) and congratulations to the charity, Abrazos & Books who will continue to do good work with the $1.4+ they will receive from the sale.

But the question to me is – would our City (and I wont use any adjectives!) have saved this house. The answer is simple – assolutamente no, non, nein, hakuna, nao, nyet and a big resounding NO.

– Written by Fiona