Historic commission approves certificate to paint unpainted brick at 51 Guildswood

The Tuscaloosa Historic Preservation Commission on Sept. 10 approved a certificate of appropriateness allowing owners Allison and Todd Turner to paint previously unpainted brick on the primary structure at 51 Guildswood in the Guildswood Historic District (Council District 4).

Chair Kathy Pagani opened the case (HPC 44-25) after city staff presented site photographs and applicable design guidelines. Staff described the proposal as “painting previously unpainted brick on the primary structure.” Allison Turner told the commission the family wants to “update the house” and that some areas of brick “need repair,” saying matching replacement brick and mortar is difficult; she said a white or cream paint “would fit the neighborhood.”

Pagani noted the commission’s decisions are governed by Chapter 20, Article 2 of the Code of Tuscaloosa and the commission’s design guidelines. Commissioners then discussed the house’s era and style; one commissioner said, based on era and style, the brick color was “not crucial to maintaining the integrity of the style” and added that no specific brick pattern would be concealed by painting.

The commission voted to approve the application. The chair announced the approval and told the applicants to check with city staff if anything changed before beginning work.

The commission and staff reminded property owners that an approval requires site compliance and that city staff will perform a final inspection of approved applications to ensure the work matches what the commission approved.