On some things, it seems, the University of California just can’t win. Trying to make a livable structure out of University House, which has historically served as the chancellor’s residence, is one of them.

The 55-year-old University House has been a thorn in the university’s side since 2004, when inspections revealed that the house has problems with erosion and drainage, and is also in violation of seismic codes. The building was declared unlivable in the summer of 2004, and after several attempts to raise enough money to revamp or rebuild the house, the university announced it would try to sell the property in April 2005. But after coming under fire from nearby residents, the university never put the house on the market.

The most recent plan is to demolish the house and construct a new one. But at a public hearing last week, private firm PBS&J released a report that found the project could affect wildlife living along the bluff adjacent to the property. The house also appeared to meet criteria making it a protect “historically significant” building, the report stated. To top it off, a representative of the Kumayaay American Indian nation stressed the importance of protecting burial sites on the property.

Meanwhile, UCSD is spending $6,500 per month to put Chancellor Marye Anne Fox up in a La Jolla home until University House is made livable again — to say nothing of the hundreds of thousands of dollars that have been spent on planning.

This board does not begrudge the Chancellor a first-class residence, which also serves as an important site for fundraising and entertaining guests. But we’ve spent too much time and money already. The university needs to pick the best plan for the site, and finish it.