Watch CBS News

UC Leases $9K Per Month Oakland Home For Napolitano, May Restore 'Blake House'

SAN FRANCISCO (CBS/AP) -- As the University of California prepares to welcome former Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano as its next president, the college system's governing board is being asked to consider renovating the vacant mansion that housed many of Napolitano's predecessors.

The UC Board of Regents is scheduled to take up a staff request on Tuesday for an initial $620,000 toward the estimated $3.5 million to $6 million cost of restoring the three-bedroom, seven-bath Blake House.

The house, located not far from UC Berkeley, has been empty since 2008. The university spent more than $100,000 a year renting a house for Mark Yudof, whom Napolitano is replacing on Sept. 30.

The university has leased her a 3,500-square-foot house in Oakland at a cost of $9,950 a month.

Money for both the renovation work and the president's rent comes from a private endowment.

(Copyright 2013 by CBS San Francisco. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.