Yabba Dabba Don’t? - Page 2

Off-white colored and in varying states of disrepair for much of its first two decades, it was restored in 1996 with the help of architect Eugene Tsui, Bay Area modernist extraordinaire. Applying Tsui's singular 'biologic' methodology to the project resulted in a home with sunken conversation pit, glass countertops, swinging wooden doors, and an unusual, steel front door studded with rectangular coils.

The three-bedroom, two-bath home went back on the market in 2015 with an ask of $4.2 million. The owner overestimated its undeniably unique appeal, as it languished two years before being bought for $2.8 million by Fang, a longtime San Francisco attorney and former publisher of the San Francisco Examiner and Asia Week. In 2016, the house was briefly available for rent on airbnb for $750 a night.

Fang lives elsewhere in Hillsborough and reportedly purchased the colorful abode as a party house. In recent years she has added a freestanding statue of Fred Flintstone, letters spelling out 'Yabba Dabba Doo' across the lawn, numerous colorful mushroom ornaments in the front yard, as well as a set of metal dinosaurs and other animal figures extending to 15 feet in height.

After obtaining a Hillsborough building permit for a low retaining wall, the city says she also added unpermitted steps, columns, gates, landscaping, parking, and a deck, proceeding despite three 'stop work' notices from the city. The property was referred to a city administrative panel in October that termed the dinosaurs "unenclosed structures" and ordered them removed.

"They are designed to be very intrusive, resulting in the owner's vision for her property being imposed on many other properties and views without regard to the desires of other residents," reads the panel's ruling. Although Fang paid a $200 fine levied by the city, she has been disinclined to disassemble her Flintstone dreamscape, leading the city to file suit this month in San Mateo County Superior Court asking a judge to declare the improvements a public nuisance.

Given 30 days to respond, she did so by hiring Alioto, the former San Francisco supervisor and mayoral candidate, who filed a countersuit charging that the city's permit process is unconstitutional.

Social media posts document that the house certainly has its detractors as well as admirers. Count among the latter Eichler Network publisher Marty Arbunich, who says, "For the record, the Eichler Network supports the fun-filled presence and Stone Age-friendly landscaping of the house. And why not? The Flintstone House is a Peninsula icon that brings smiles to the faces of thousands of passing motorists every day. That's such a positive thing. Inside, we especially love Tsui's wild kitchen design."

"I thank the many Hillsborough residents who have shown their support, as well as thousands of local, national, and worldwide supporters," Fang said in a prepared statement. "Let's keep Fred and Dino alive and work together to keep on smiling. I will fight the best I can."