West Tampa: '50s Guida House on track to be landmark
The Historic Preservation Commission gives its stamp of approval. Now it's the City Council's turn.
By SHERRI DAY
Published October 15, 2004
The Guida House is one step closer to gaining landmark status and permanent protection from developers.
Members of the Historic Preservation Commission voted unanimously Tuesday to recommend that the 1950s house receive a city landmark designation. The City Council will likely take up the matter within a few months, the commission said.
The Guida House near MacFarlane Park has been at the center of controversy since September 2003, when the city offered the site to the West Tampa Boys & Girls Club. The club needed to relocate to accommodate the widening of Interstate 275.
But a group of community activists and preservationists persuaded the city to build a new club elsewhere and make way for the restoration of the estate.
The commission said Tuesday the Guida House deserved landmark status because of its architectural significance and connection to George Guida Sr.
Known as Mr. West Tampa, Guida was a prominent businessman, fundraiser and philanthropist. He died in 1986. Three years later, his family sold the estate to the city, which annexed it into MacFarlane Park but did little to maintain the house.
"What happened with the Guida House is a classic grass roots example of what seemed like insurmountable odds," said Catherine Byrd, chairwoman of the preservation commission. "If the community had not spoken up, I think this might have passed the eyes of this commission."
George Guida Jr., 64, said he is grateful that the commission remembered his father's work on behalf of West Tampa residents.
"This is truly humbling and gratifying and very exciting for our family and for the community," Guida said.
Jason Busto, a spokesman for Tampa Preservation Inc. and an early supporter of the fight to maintain the Guida House, said the city was expected to approve an agreement this week that would allow restoration work to begin on the house.
Tampa Preservation Inc., which joined the grass roots group that started the campaign, began negotiating with the city in May, Busto said. Under the proposed plan, crews will install a fence around the house, repair the roof, clean the interior and exterior, board up windows and remove weeds and historically inaccurate vegetation.
The preservationists also plan to seek long-term tenants to help generate funding to restore and decorate the house. The restoration project and re-opening could be done within a year, Busto said.
"It's exciting," he said. "It's just the beginning of things to come in the community."
