Bruce Parry had been dealing with health issues stemming from a mugging on College Avenue in the spring of 2023 that had left him hospitalized. Returning home after surgery, he found an eviction notice on his door. Already in his 70s, Bruce Parry had been living there for about 45 years.
The property’s new owner Kenneth Er had purchased it for $750k from the daughter of the previous owner following her mother’s passing with plans to develop the site for resale. When the community learned of Bruce’s dilemma in the Rockridge News (March 2023), neighbors rallied to his side. This bought him a little more time, but he was running out of options.
Instead of rebuilding, however, Er sold the property to Jing Yi Construction in August of last year for $900k. According to Bruce, “When I got out of the hospital, he processed the eviction and sold it to a woman in San Francisco, a woman who's a land developer. She has no qualms about anything. She just said, ‘tear it down.’”
Built in 1904, the cabin where he lived at 5339 Lawton Avenue had stood for over a century before being demolished late last month. Video: Anna L. Marks
Bruce had cherished the 600+ sq. ft., one-room cabin, believed to be one of the oldest in the neighborhood. He thought it had originally served as the gardener’s cottage for the large estate at Hudson and Shafter, and that it was built from a single, first-growth Douglas Fir harvested in Mendocino County.
His rent had remained steady at $65 per month under a verbal agreement that he would use his carpentry skills to maintain the home while living there. Bruce had learned his craft while preforming and building sets for the SF Magic Theater, which he co-founded with fellow actors, including the late Sam Shepard.
Bruce has since moved in with his siblings in Henderson, Nevada. He is trying to keep a positive perspective, but misses his home and friends. He plans to come pick up his ’53 Chevy that is stored at his old neighbor‘s house in the next few weeks. He has an antique dealer who is interested. In the meantime, he is doing “retired projects” like working in his sister’s garden, and “just a few projects to rebuild her house to convert the garage into a bedroom… I'm 82 and I can't sleep on a couch forever.”
It is difficult to ascertain the plans of Jing Yi Construction as they do not have a listed phone number and have been unable to be reached for comment. Rockridge Voice will keep an eye on the property and alert readers as the development progresses.
