Future of historical Giannini home is uncertain

The turn-of-the-century, 2.5 story Tudor revival cottage stands at 20 El Cerrito Avenue in San Mateo. William Calway, a business partner of Robert Wisnom, completed the house in 1901. Reflecting the classic English countryside architecture of the 15th century, "Seven Oaks" became the home of Giannini and his wife Clorinda in 1905. Now completely obscured from the street by trees and other vegetation, Seven Oaks is said to be the last of the great San Mateo family estate houses still standing.

Like a slumbering colossus in some forgotten menagerie, Seven Oaks lies hidden from modern San Mateo, in a cage of shrubbery, wrought iron, and padlocks.

A year before the banker and his wife moved into Seven Oaks, A.P. Giannini had established the Bank of Italy in San Francisco's North Beach in 1904. Known the inventor of branch banking, and revered for his willingness to do business with "the little guy", Giannini changed the name of his bank to Bank of America in 1930. By 1945, Bank of America had become the largest commercial bank in the world. Giannini and his wife Clorinda resided at Seven Oaks until his death in 1949.

Soon after the Giannini's moved in, Seven Oaks quickly became the center piece of the Giannini empire. One story tells how, during the great earthquake of 1906, before the terrible fire could reach the Bank of Italy headquarters at Columbus & Washington, Giannini and his directors acted quickly. Loading all the money, securities, and records from the vault into two wagons, they spirited the essence of the Bank of Italy to the relative safety of his country home. Because of his foresight, Giannini reopened his institution nine days after the disaster, reportedly setting up a desk for business on the Washington Street wharf, down the street from his devastated headquarters edifice. As the only banker with funds on hand, Giannini played a monumental role in the rebuilding of San Francisco.

The Giannini family home was inherited by daughter Claire Giannini Hoffman, who died in 1997. She apparently so worshiped her legendary father that she felt no one outside of the family could possibly do justice to the preservation of his memory or his home. A 1994 addendum to her will decreed, "I therefore direct my executors to demolish such residence if it is legally permissible to do as soon as it is legally permissible to do it." Giannini reportedly wanted to build a medical facility for children on the estate grounds, even though zoning laws would probably prohibit such a structure.

However, the dictates of the will contradicts the provisions of City Ordinance 27.66.060. This ordinance states that buildings - such as Seven Oaks - deemed eligible for the National Register of Historic Places can be demolished "only upon a finding by the City Council that applicable health and safety requirements cannot be feasibly met unless the building is demolished." Since an official tour of the house in 1998 revealed no such health and safety concerns, the order to destroy it runs in direct conflict

with municipal law. Furthermore, a wellspring of support for its preservation has arisen among its neighbors, the Peninsula Social Club, the Historical Association, and others.

"At this point, I don't think there is much danger of the house actually being demolished", says City Councilmember Sue Lempert, who attended the 1998 tour. "The question now is: What will happen next?"

Currently, the Giannini estate is managed by co-executors attorney Donald Lawrence, and longtime Giannini friend Dorothy Yaw. Due to the dispute over the future of Seven Oaks, each is reportedly trying to have the other legally removed as executor.

Neither Lawrence, nor Yaw's attorney James Cilly, could be reached for an update.

Due to the costs involved, Lempert sees the possibility of turning Seven Oaks into a public museum as unlikely. Rather, the Councilmember hopes Seven Oaks would be purchased by either a charitable foundation or a private investor, to be repaired and maintained for posterity. Lempert hopes, eventually, Seven Oaks will be opened to at least some public access, where the life of San Mateo's leading citizen can be appropriately appreciated. She says several independent private investors have already inquired about the property. Until the dispute between the executors is resolved, however, the fate of Seven Oaks will likely remain in question.