Good and Bad News for the Historic Guida House in West Tampa
The city-owned historic George Guida House remains tattered and is again unattended.
George Guida House 2025. There’s good and bad news for the home that once belonged to Mr. West Tampa. The good news for the structure now owned by the city is that all of the construction equipment and debris have been removed, and the perimeter fence has been taken down. Since 2022, the city has been using the historic property as a staging area for a neighborhood wastewater construction project. The heart-shaped driveway, installed initially by Guida for his wife, has been re-paved, and the rotted joists supporting the roof and fascia have been replaced (but remain unpainted). The house, constructed in 1952, was placed on the Local Historic Designation list in 2005 and the National Register in 2006.
Construction materials are stored on the city's historic Guida house property. 2024
Construction materials are stored inside a perimeter fence on the city's historic Guida house property. 2024
The heart-shaped driveway at Guida House is overgrown. 2013
The Guida House heart-shaped driveway has been re-paved and the overgrowth removed. 2025
Rotted soffit at the George Guida House 2013.
The rotted fascia and joists have been replaced 2025
During my recent visit, a city official was on the property. I asked them about continuing progress. The bad news is that they told me crews had been hard at work on the restoration for a while, but that all work has now stopped. They did not know why. It could be permitting, it could be money, or it could be that other priorities, like the west side Riverwalk, have taken the focus off the project.
I’ve asked the city for months to be allowed to photograph the inside (with an escort) for historical records. They (Parks Department) have refused. The chain-link fence around the house is open in spots, and the protective plywood sheets over the open windows are simply leaning against the building, leaving it vulnerable to vagrants and, worse, fire.
Protective plywood leans against the structure at the Guida House 2025, leaving openings for vagrants.