Romney Has Big Plans for La Jolla Home

Republican Presidential candidate has been in San Diego this weekend and has plans for a Monday-night dinner in the area, with all upcoming events closed to the media. While his visit has been low-key, his plans for his La Jolla home have made news. 

The San Diego Union-Tribune reported Sunday that Romney intends to raze his 3,000-square-foot home in the Barber Tract neighborhood to make way for an 11,000-square-foot house.

The former Massachusetts governor bought the three-bedroom, oceanfront house built in 1936 at 311 Dunemere Dr. about three years ago, the Union-Tribune reported.

Former San Diego Mayor Maureen O’Connor and her late husband, Jack-in-the-Box founder Bob Peterson, are former owners of the home.

“It’s a very special little area of La Jolla,” Carol Olten, a local historian, told the Union-Tribune. “It’s obviously very close to the ocean. It has unique architecture and the people who live there just love it all the time—even though it gets crowded.”

Romney lives in Massachusetts, but owns homes in New Hampshire, Utah and La Jolla.

The California Coastal Commission and La Jolla Community Planning Group have recommended approval of Romney's plans. City permits are pending.

City News Service contributed to this report.