Spreckels Mansion Hits the Market Again After Extensive Renovations

It's on the market again.

The Spreckels mansion, the site nearly two years ago of an infamous investigation into two deaths, has a “for sale” sign posted in front of it, though it is markedly different in appearance since the last time it was available.

The property, at 1043 Ocean Blvd., is not listed on the website of agent Scott Aurich or other major real estate sites, but the sign was visible near the driveway of the renovated historic mansion Thursday.

The home, constructed more than a century ago by San Diego founding father John D. Spreckels, was last put up for sale in the fall of 2011, listed at $14.5 million.

Public records show the listing for the oceanfront mansion was removed in August 2012, after the price had been raised to $15.5 million. The house was acquired for nearly $13 million in 2007 by Jonah Shacknai.

Aurich recently said the price would be much higher this time around, nearly $17 million. The property shows signs of extensive renovations, with new landscaping and trees to obscure the famous facade. Substantial changes to the interior had been planned.

The increase also comes at a time when the market is livelier, following years of stagnant home prices.

The 2011 attempt to sell the property came just months after , who died days apart following separate incidents at the residence.

Zahau was determined to have killed herself after her nude body was found in a rear courtyard of the property. Authorities said the boy died due to an accidental fall on the mansion's staircase. He was treated for six days before succumbing to his injuries.

The victims are the loved ones – the girlfriend and son – of Shacknai, a former pharmaceuticals magnate from Arizona. He accepted the results of the investigation and praised authorities for their efforts.

The Zahau family and , the boy's mother, have criticized detectives and called on various agencies to reopen the cases.

The deaths have been the subject of numerous TV programs, from cable and network TV news shows to Dr. Phil, and was recently featured in a book by noted crime author Ann Rule.