A wrecking crew is coming for a certain Mykonos-white mansion in Yorba Linda’s hills — a standout to 91 freeway commuters from its conspicuous perch at the end of Hidden Hills Road.
The new owner plans to tear down most of the nine-bedroom, 19,700-square-foot hilltop estate purchased earlier this year, according to a demolition request approved by the City Council on Tuesday, Nov. 5.
That means transformation is imminent for the home and occasional party pad called Satsang, named for an Indian philosophy that emphasizes associating oneself with good people.
The residence today is outfitted with upscale dwelling luxuries such as a home theater, a tennis court and an indoor pool. The location provides spectacular views of the rest of Yorba Linda and Anaheim Hills.
It’s also not that old. Construction of Satsang was completed in 2004.
But the new owner, consumer product entrepreneur Loksarang D. Hardas, wants to go bigger.
His plans call for turning the property into a seven-bedroom, 29,300-square-foot manor plus a separate two-bedroom, 1,200-square-foot, guest house. Making that happen will require demolishing about 80% of the current home. Only a few parts of the existing structure, including the garage, will be reused in the new mansion.
It is unclear when the revamp will begin.
Hardas, chief executive of Awesome Products, a household chemicals maker based in Buena Park, bought the home early this year for $9.8 million. The sale price broke a record for Yorba Linda real estate, but was less than half of the $20 million asked when the property hit the market five years ago.
The previous owners were Mahesh Vyas, an allergy and immunology specialist, and his wife Jayshree Vyas, an obstetrician and gynecologist.
They raised their family in the home, but the property also entertained some big names.
Jennifer Lopez starred in a shampoo commercial at Satsang. Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Marvin Jones had his wedding reception there.
Neighbors weren’t always thrilled. In 2014, the Vyas’ were charged with violating a noise ordinance and using their property for unauthorized events, but charges were dismissed.
