Downtown commission approves 100-square-foot painted sign on Bricktown building with engineer-certified conditions

The Downtown Design Commission approved a permit to paint a 100-square-foot wall sign on unpainted brick near the top of a building on East Sheridan Avenue in Bricktown on July 17, 2025, with conditions that require the applicant to follow the steps recommended by the applicant's structural engineer and to submit a post-installation certification from that engineer.

The commission's decision responds to a longstanding design guideline that discourages painting unpainted brick because of the risk such work can pose to historic masonry. Staff had recommended denial of the request on grounds that painting unpainted masonry does not retain traditional masonry surfaces and may damage the facade, but offered the commission the option to approve if the precautions listed by the applicant's engineer were made conditions of approval.

Laura Griggs, Planning Department staff, said the building was constructed in 1906 and is slightly more than 31,000 square feet. She noted Bricktown regulations allow up to 250 square feet of attached wall signs for a building, and the proposed 100-square-foot sign would use a substantial portion of the remaining allowable signage area on that façade. Griggs also explained that Bricktown sign rules permit “ghost signs” but staff could not find documentation showing an original sign in the proposed location, so the application could not be treated as a ghost-sign restoration.

Chad Godwin, a tenant in the building and partner with the owner, told the commission the applicant had the option to install a metal sign that would meet the guidelines but preferred a painted sign for historic appearance. Godwin said a structural engineer had been retained to study the brick and recommend the proper cleaning, primer and paints to preserve the masonry’s ability to breathe.

Commission discussion acknowledged the tension: staff’s guideline discouraging painting unpainted brick versus the applicant’s effort to hire specialist contractors and an engineer. Commissioners asked the applicant to provide a post-installation certification from the structural engineer confirming the four recommended steps were followed: hiring a reputable painter experienced with old brick, appropriate cleaning (the engineer recommended a wire-brush approach but staff noted abrasive cleaning risks), applying a high-grade primer suitable for historic brick, and using a mineral-based paint that bonds without forming a non-breathable film.

A commissioner moved to approve the application on the basis that it met the Bricktown core development design district regulations and guidelines referenced in the staff report, with the condition that the applicant follow the engineer’s listed steps and obtain a letter from the structural engineer certifying completion of those steps after the work was done. Another commissioner seconded the motion; the motion passed.

The approval includes the condition that the structural engineer provide the written certification to city staff for the project file. The commission recorded no formal vote tally in the transcript beyond the motion, second and the chair’s announcement that it passed.

The decision does not remove staff guidance against painting unpainted brick elsewhere in Bricktown or downtown; staff and commissioners noted this approval rested on the specific facts and the reversible nature of the proposed work plus the applicant’s agreed-to documentation and engineering oversight.

The applicant may proceed to apply for a sign permit with the stated conditions; permitting and final inspections will be handled by city staff.