Even social-media billionaire Mark Zuckerberg values his privacy.
The Facebook founder and CEO plans to demolish four properties he purchased near his Palo Alto home and replace them with smaller houses that will prevent views into his backyard and bedroom. According to a planning application filed with the city, these homes, acquired in 2012 and 2013 for over $43 million, will be rebuilt to maintain the area’s residential character.
Miles Radcliffe-Trenner, a spokesman for Sard Verbinnen & Co., representing Facebook, stated that Zuckerberg has not yet determined the future use of the new homes. “He’s replacing the homes, not demolishing them for redevelopment,” said Trenner. “No one is being displaced, and the properties remain zoned for residential use.”
Zuckerberg began acquiring the homes after learning of a developer’s plan to construct a house that would overlook his residence and be marketed as neighboring the Facebook founder’s property. His purchases include:
- A 3,600-square-foot home at 1462 Edgewood Dr., bought for $10.5 million in September 2013.
- A 3,800-square-foot property at 1459 Hamilton Ave., purchased for $14 million in October 2013.
- A 2,600-square-foot home at 1451 Hamilton Ave., acquired for $14.5 million in October 2013.
- A 3,200-square-foot residence at 1457 Hamilton Ave., bought for $4.8 million in December 2012.
Zuckerberg’s primary residence, a five-bedroom, five-bathroom home at 1456 Edgewood Dr., was purchased in 2011 for $7 million. He lives there with his wife, pediatrician Priscilla Chan, and their daughter Maxima. Additionally, he owns a home on Fair Oaks Street in San Francisco’s Mission District, valued at around $10 million.
Real estate values in Palo Alto continue to rise, with median home values in the Crescent Park neighborhood estimated at $4.1 million, up 13% over the past year. Citywide, the median home value is $2.5 million.
The planned redevelopment will replace the two multi-story and two single-story homes with three single-story residences and one two-story structure. A May 16 letter from Zuckerberg’s property management company assured neighbors that the redesign aims to blend seamlessly with the neighborhood and reduce overall square footage.
This privacy-focused project comes amid recent scrutiny of Facebook. Earlier this month, Zuckerberg and the company faced criticism after reports suggested the platform may have suppressed conservative news in its “trending topics” section. Zuckerberg denied these allegations, asserting that Facebook does not engage in political bias.
Despite the controversy, Zuckerberg remains committed to securing his privacy while maintaining a positive relationship with his community.
