City of Tampa to restore historic George Guida Sr. House in $3.9M project

The city of Tampa is moving forward with a $3.9 million restoration of the historic George Guida Sr. House, a long-vacant West Tampa landmark that officials plan to transform into a community gathering space. 

The home, located at 1516 N. Renfrew St., was completed in 1952 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. 

City officials say the project will restore many of the home's original features while adapting it for public use as a venue for meetings, events and community programming.

George Guida Sr., a businessman, builder and civic leader known as "Mr. West Tampa," designed the distinctive Art Moderne home and built it using his own construction company, according to a release. It wasn’t just its unique architecture that made the home a neighborhood landmark. The house also served as a community hub for decades, hosting family celebrations and civic gatherings. 

The restoration will preserve several historic elements, including the family room's original fireplace, tilework, cabinetry and indoor mural, as well as the outdoor chimney featuring a mural of a tall ship at sea.

One of the property's most distinctive features — a heart-shaped driveway that Guida created as a tribute to his wife, Palmira — also will be restored.

"The George Guida Sr. House tells the story of a family whose vision and generosity helped shape West Tampa into the vibrant community it is today," Mayor Jane Castor says in the release. "The restoration of his home honors the Guida family's lasting contributions to West Tampa, and we're proud to breathe new life into this treasured home so it can once again serve as a place that brings the community together."

Under the city's plans, the home's first floor will become a community gathering space with flexible meeting rooms and exhibits highlighting the Guida family's history and the home's preserved architectural features.

Outside, crews will restore Guida's large patio and outdoor kitchen while renovating the adjacent, tiled gathering area.

Work is currently in the selective demolition and exploratory restoration phase, the release says. City officials say contractors are assessing the building's condition to determine the final scope of the project.

The city said staff have worked with historic preservation experts and relied on George Guida Sr.'s original hand-drawn architectural renderings to help ensure the restoration remains faithful to the home's original design.