Google co-founder Larry ‘Mr Green’ Page is planning to apply for a permit to build a new, nearly 6,000-square-foot “eco-friendly house,” in Palo Alto, CA.

The new lot is adjacent to the historic property where, according to neighbors, he currently lives.

The modern, two-story home will be sited nearly in the middle, with many of the property’s 60-plus trees retained to screen the home from the street and neighbors, the plans indicate. It will feature four bedrooms and a full basement.

The home will also be environmentally friendly, although, I wonder at the eco-friendliness of tearing down an existing property to build another. The 35-year-old billionaire has already bought up nearby properties - all under various limited-liability company names, according to Santa Clara County public records - over the last several years and demolished the houses, giving some cause for concern that the quaint little neighborhood could morph into an armed-guarded enclave of mega mansions.

Apparently, he is applying for Green Point Certification, with points given for use of recycled and low or no-VOC (volatile organic compound) materials and a roof garden with solar panels. Other eco-friendly elements include use of grasscrete pavers, pervious paving in the parking court and a pervious path through the trees.

“The house is designed to minimize the impact on the environment,” said a spokesman.

Under current Palo Alto regulations, Page could build another 5,000 square feet of “accessory structures,” a guest house (up to 900 square feet), pool house or art studio, for example, according to Curtis Williams, the city’s interim director of planning. The previous home on his lot was about 4,500 square feet. The planned 3,540-square-foot basement is not figured in the building cap.

Page’s spokesman would not confirm Page’s current address, nor that the Google co-founder also owns a third neighboring property. But city regulations would not allow him to merge any of the land, since lot mergers are prohibited when the combined properties exceed 19,999 square feet, Williams said.

But that wouldn’t preclude Page from adding an accessory structure to the neighboring lot that he owns — such as a tennis court or swimming pool — as long as there was also a house on the property. Neighbors are concerned with the mess of construction, as well as possible damage to streets from heavy trucks, adding to the eco-unfriendliness.

“There’s constant noise and confusion; when one finishes, the other starts,” said one neighbor. But fences are already up, including wire mesh around protected trees, waiting for permission to be given to begin work.

Photo courtesy - Gawker

The Daily Mirror, a British tabloid has reported that, “Celebs losing £80K a week on their Dubai mansions,” as Dubai’s property market goes into a tailspin. It is a rather entertaining piece of………. I hesitate to use the word “journalism,” but can’t really come up with an appropriate alternative. The article reads,

Stars including David and Victoria Beckham, Michael Jackson and Brad Pitt are losing £80,000 A WEEK as their luxury Dubai villas crash in value. Celebs who bought the properties in their droves over the last few years have seen prices halve, with pads worth £3.2million in October now on the market for £1.6million. And with the world’s superwealthy cutting their losses and selling up, Dubai’s bubble has well and truly burst.Among those who bought there were Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt, England cricketer Andrew Flintoff and ex-Formula 1 champ Michael Schumacher, who owns a £5million slice of “Antarctica” in the World Islands. Story.

Which is all rather funny. David and Victoria Beckham were given their villa on Palm Jumeirah, as part of a marketing campaign by the developers. Apparently, they believed that if an England footballer buys an investment property in Dubai, the rest of the British public will follow along and do the same, which didn’t work out too well for many who did just that. A recent announcement that the Beckhams were to buy another property in Dubai was a thinly disguised attempt to renew interest in Dubai. The latest developer to go broke in the UAE is Khoie properties in Ras al Khaimah, costing over 400 British investors thousands of pounds, and ground is hardly broken.

Michael Schumacher was also given his “slice of Antarctica,” as a promo (the German public being the second most prolific investors in Dubai.) And as far as I can tell, Brangelina do not own any property in Dubai and have never set foot in the place. They prefer an estate in France, Chateau Miraval.

I don’t know if Michael Jackson owns any property there, but I do know he is being sued by Sheikh Abdulla bin Hamad Al Khalifa, who paid the $2.2 million in legal fees when Jackson defended himself against child molestation charges along with an estimated $7 million advance on Jackson’s next album which never appeared. Oh well, that’s show business. Maybe he will be able to pay when the contents of Neverland are auctioned off next month?

So, no “celebs” are losing a penny, and it just gives credence to the paranoid delusions emanating from the emirate at the moment that the international media is out to destroy Dubai’s economy. About the only thing the Daily Mirror got right is the fact that the Dubai property bubble has well and truly burst. But we don’t need to make stuff up to show that. And this wasn’t an excuse to publish a photo of a half-naked Angelina Jolie, although I was sorely tempted.

Even as Irish rock band U2 were having a street named after them in New York (53rd street will be U2 way for a week) news of the collapse of their luxury apartment development in Dublin’s distressed docklands takes the shine off.

U2 Tower is no more

Not long so ago, Bono and a team of property developers cast their eyes over Dublin’s docklands and planned a tower development as a monument to Ireland’s super-strong economy in one of Dublin’s poorest areas. The U2 Tower was planned to be Ireland’s tallest building, complete with luxury apartments and a recording studio. Unfortunately, the “strength,” was based solely on over-borrowing and a housing bubble that has now burst, and the  project has now been delayed indefinitely.

Ireland has gone bust in a big way, possibly rivaling Iceland’s demise. As usual, the local politicians are pointing the finger at a global problem that started in the US, rather than accepting any responsibility. The housing market has collapsed completely; banks are being raided by police after numerous scandals and frauds have come to light; unemployment is rising fast, and the country recently introduced an emergency budget to cope with the crisis, which will be unveiled next month.

It is fair to say that the only thing preventing Ireland from following Iceland into bankruptcy is their adoption of the Euro. Speaking of Euros, I was shocked to discover that an Irish bank actually had some cash in it. €7.6 million actually, which is the sum taken from The Bank of Ireland by a gang of armed robbers last week. €1.8 million has already been recovered, but the rest is still missing. Maybe Bono should put the word out - he might finally find what he is looking for.

Sotheby’s are to auction off the contents of the late Gianni Versace’s Villa Le Fontanelle this month. The lake Como villa was Versace’s favorite place and was sold last year to a Russian buyer for $52 million. The auction will take place on the 18th March, with viewings 12, 13, 15-17th at Sotheby’s New Bond Street Galleries, where they have re-created some of the rooms in the house.

The collection is expected to fetch more than $3 million and includes 550 lots, many of which reflect Gianni Versace’s appreciation of the male form. This is a small selection of pieces.

Images copyright sotheby’s and a full online auction catalog is here.

Agatha Christie's Holiday Home, Greenway

The National Trust has opened Agatha Christie’s holiday home, “Greenway,” in Devon to the public, after extensive renovation work. The 300-acre estate was donated to the trust in 2000, and work has now been completed. In an attempt to limit environmental damage by visitors, it is necessary to book a car parking space if you wish to arrive by vehicle. “Green,” visitors arriving by foot or bicycle are made more welcome and take preference over those driving to the property.

Renovation Work now Completed on Greenway

The house occupies a hillside perch, overlooking the River Dart in South Devon.  Whilst the house is still privately occupied the National Trust was given 300 acres of gardens and farmland at the estate, 30 acres of which are being opened to the public. First mentioned in 1493, ‘Greynway’ was the crossing point of the River Dart to Dittisham. In the late 16th century, a Tudor mansion, Greenway Court occupied the site. Greenway House, the central block of today’s building was built in the 18th century. The gardens, beautiful in all seasons and renowned for rare half-hardy plants under-planted with native wild flowers, are believed to be partially the work of prisoners from the Spanish Armada, and are currently kept by gardening staff that have been on the property for many years.

30 acres of gardens are open to the public

If you are interested in the history of the house or details about visiting go here - The National Trust

Photo Credit - Lincolnian on Flickr

The world of celebrity real estate seems to mirror the ups and downs of the financial crisis, and these are a few headlines that demonstrate that.

Lauren Conrad leases her Hollywood Hills home out

Lauren Conrad’s Hollywood Hills home is available to lease for a paltry $11,000 a month, says the Los Angeles Times.

While we are all waiting for the stimulus package to kick in and for Americans to find where they left their entrepreneurial spirits, perhaps all eyes should be on Lauren Conrad, or L.C., as she apparently no longer likes to be called.

Conrad, 23, is a reality TV star and clearly has the knack for making something out of nothing. As a high school senior, she appeared in the MTV reality series ” Laguna Beach: The Real Orange County,” and now she stars in her own spinoff show, ” The Hills,” which follows her life as she pursues a fashion career. Glued to the set, are you? Los Angeles Times

The contents of Whacko Jacko’s Neverland ranch go up for auction in April. This includes some of the oddest items ever put up for auction after Michael Jackson’s Neverland ranch was foreclosed upon.

Speaking of foreclosures, the luxury property developer that retired basketball star, “Magic” Johnson invested in has filed for chapter 11 bankrupcy. Luxury developer files chapter 11.

Milla Jojovich Lists home in Beverly Hills

2008 saw an awful lot of celebrity foreclosures, and 2009 is looking to be headed down that same road, which makes sense. The Business Insider suggests that anyone facing foreclosure should “take heart,” from the fact that people more famous than you are facing the same issue, and have compiled their top 20 famous foreclosures here. Not sure I am a fan of the “misery loves company,” approach myself.

Big Time Listings seem to be top of the celebrity property charts right now and have managed to scoop the major newspapers on a number of events this month, including the fact that Milla Jojovich listed her 4-bed, 3,852 sqft house in Beverly Hills for $3.299 million.

In a Big Time Listings exclusive, we can report on the listing of Jovovich’s longtime French Country-style home, which is at the end of a cul-de-sac on a flag-shaped lot. The house came on the market a little over a week ago.

And if you wanted to accuse me of using that as an excuse to post a photo of Milla, I would have a hard time denying it. Big Time listing’s other exclusives this month include Michelle Stafford’s Los Angeles listing, and Jill Maries Jones’ Hollywood Hills home, which was once owned by Jason Priestley.