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Board allows painted brick at 501 E. Kaufman with conditions after homeowner’s testimony
Summary
After an emotional testimony from homeowner Shannon Barton, who cited health reasons and about $4,000 in painting costs, the advisory board voted 4–1 to allow the existing painted brick at 501 East Kaufman Street to remain, stipulating any further painting be a single solid color (white) and approving a porch railing and review of decorative corbels.
The Rockwall Historic Preservation Advisory Board voted 4–1 to allow painted brick to remain on a non‑contributing residence at 501 East Kaufman Street, with conditions restricting any further brick painting to a single solid color and permitting a porch railing that must match the approved color.
Staff presented H2025‑021 after Neighborhood Improvement Services identified painted brick on the 1995 one‑story house. The staff member noted the historic guidelines generally discourage painting naturally unpainted masonry and warned that if the board denied the application the owner could be required to remove the paint by sandblasting — a process staff said would not restore the original brick color.
Homeowner Shannon Barton told the board she had recently undergone major surgery for a rare cancer and wanted to brighten her home in the time she has left. "I didn't know I wasn't supposed to paint brick," Barton said, describing her decision to repaint and telling the board she spent about $4,000 and cannot afford to repaint. She asked the board to allow her to finish the planned exterior work, including a small porch railing and decorative corner corbels.
Board members discussed precedent and practicality. One board member said in prior cases painted contributing properties presented different issues; another said that sandblasting would likely leave the house in worse condition. Staff reiterated that "once it's painted, it's painted" and that reversing paint on masonry rarely restores the original appearance.
After deliberation a member moved to allow the existing white brick to remain, require any additional painting to be a single solid color (white), permit the homeowner’s small railing (which must match the brick color), and allow decorative corbels to be reviewed on completion. The motion passed 4–1.
The board’s action applies only to this property and includes the stated conditions; enforcement and any further changes will proceed through the city’s standard permit and review process.
