Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney is increasing his presence in San Diego, with plans to raze his 3,000-square-foot home in La Jolla to make way for an 11,000-square-foot house, according to a report on Sunday.
The former Massachusetts governor, in the area for fundraisers this weekend, bought the three bedroom, oceanfront house built in 1936 at 311 Dunemere Drive about three years ago, according to The San Diego Union-Tribune.
The home in the "Barber tract" neighborhood was once owned by former San Diego Mayor Maureen O'Connor and her late husband, Bob Peterson, founder of Jack-in-the-Box.
"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."
The California Coastal Commission and La Jolla Community Planning Group have recommended approval of Romney's plans.
City permits are pending.
Mitt and Anne Romney attended a local brunch Saturday and have dinner planned in the area Monday.
