512 10th St.
Sacramento, CA
Year built: 1895 Year acquired: 1984 Year sold: 2004
The house on 10th Street was the first project that Bruce started in the Sacramento area. Nearly one hundred years old when acquired, the house was in need of some TLC. Bruce worked with the leading architects of the day that specialized in restoring historic Sacramento gold rush era properties, Bob McCabe and Gary Herlinger. For this project, they were joined with engineer Dan Yoshpe to design the transformation of the single family house into 6 separate apartments. The old house had the classic balloon framing, the typical Victorian framing characterized by long uninterrupted studs holding the walls up. Bruce had the foresight to know it was a fire hazard and, in fact, he specifically wrote into the contract that the price would have to be reduced in the case of damage to the property.
Sure enough the place caught fire while the house was in escrow, and nearly burned to the ground. Bruce received what he was owed in the clause and with the proceeds from the fire insurance coupled with a loan from SHRA and some equity raised from a few friends, he was able to keep the house for restoration.
The city had other ideas, and sent Bruce a notice to tear the place down as it was so damaged by the fire, but Bruce persisted. Not only did he repair the fire damage, but the architects and engineer also brilliantly designed the raising of the building by two feet while retaining its historic Victorian architectural character, which gave him two extra apartment units. He used only the finest materials in the reconstruction, including re-framing the house completely with clear heart redwood, adding another 100 years of life to the house.
Bruce’s persistence and ingenuity paid off, and after holding the property for 20 years he was able to sell it for a record high price per unit. The house and its restoration are listed in the National Historic Register of Historic Places and it has been recognized by many architects and architectural awards.
