Apple co-founder, Steve Jobs' childhood home in Silicon Valley has been designated a 'Historic Resource' by the historical commission of Los Altos city, according to several news reports.
The committee voted unanimously to render the home a historical resource Monday night. It took the association two years to work towards the designation after extensive research and evaluation of the property, reports Realtor.com.
This is the same residence where Jobs built the first Apple computer with the help of his sister Patricia and co-founder, Steve Wozniak. Apple 1 was built in the garage of the residence. The first 50 computers were sold for $500 each.
The home is also where Jobs met some of his first investors. "The first partnership for Apple Computer Co. was signed on April 1, 1976, and nine months later the company was established and operations moved to nearby Cupertino," according to the San Jose Mercury News.
The original computers are now worth thousands of dollars today. Recently, one sold for $213,000 at a 2010 auction.
The Jobs family moved into the house in 1988. Patricia still owns the house.
The committee did not need Patricia's permission to designate the house. Any renovations intended for the residence will require permission now. However, if Patricia has a problem, she can appeal the decision, reports The Sydney Morning Herald.
"So I'm assuming that was an affirmative because I have had multiple communications with her over the past several weeks," Zachary Dahl, a senior planner with the city said after he received no comment from Patricia.
Meanwhile, the residents are very happy with the designation.
"I think it's a good thing for the Silicon Valley. People need things to reflect on and to hold on to, to have a sense of belonging," Dag Spicer, senior curator with the Computer History Museum in Mountain View opined about the decision.
However, the rest of the country is finding the decision rather absurd. One of the comments in a feature at EnGadget read:
"Wow.... Is this really what America invests in..... Its a dumb old house. Seriously. Who cares."
Another on San Jose Mercury news read: "They must have Obunghole Money to Burn....."
While Steve Jobs home just got designated 'Historic', Steve Wozniak's Los Gatos home is on the market asking $4.1 million.
