Bryan’s childhood home razed for office expansion

The childhood home of former Nevada governor and U.S. Sen. Richard Bryan has been demolished to make way for expansion of De Castroverde Law Group's office on Maryland Parkway.

Construction of the 2,400-square-foot office expansion and additional parking, is expected to finish by year's end. Total cost of the project is about $500,000, including design and permits, Alex De Castroverde said.

De Castroverde said he recognizes the history behind the home. The Bryan family bought the 900-square-foot home for $5,500 in 1943 and lived there until 1968.

"We're trying to put our money where our mouth is," he said. "Hopefully, it'll be a nice addition and make the neighborhood nicer. When I bought this in 2005, it was a homeless park. It was horrible. Now it's a nice-looking park. The atmosphere now is definitely different."

After the Bryan family sold the home, it was used for a variety of commercial businesses, including a Western art gallery. Several additions were made that increased the size to about 3,700 square feet, De Castroverde said.

Bryan, now an attorney with Lionel Sawyer Collins, said he drives through the neighborhood on his way to church and it brings back good memories.

"Nobody grew up in a happier neighborhood than I did," Bryan said.

"There were kids galore. It was the war years. The park was much bigger, and in the summer we had pickup baseball games in the park. They brought in bales of peat (moss) for the park and we made a fort with them. The thing that struck me is there was no difference between truck drivers and doctors in the neighborhood," he said.

Founded by brothers Alex and Orlando De Castroverde, the law firm has had its offices at 1149 S. Maryland Parkway, across the street from Huntridge Circle Park, since 2006.

"It was important that we treat the house with respect, and make sure it is replaced with a nice structure," Orlando De Castroverde said.

Contact reporter Hubble Smith at hsmith@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0491.