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Future Foggy For Historical Guida House

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By JOSE PATINO GIRONA, The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 26, 2007

WEST TAMPA - The future of the Guida House, the former home of the man known as Mr. West Tampa, remains unclear.

The Housing and Education Alliance had shown interest in the 1951, two-story building. But the Tampa-based agency said recently that it probably wouldn't be able to use the vacant house in Macfarlane Park, 1801 N. Lincoln Ave., because it can't expand on the property.

The nonprofit alliance has 12 employees, and the design of the 5,000-square-foot building would be cumbersome, said Sylvia Alvarez, the alliance's executive director.

She said the alliance wants to support whoever moves into the building by assisting with fundraisers and grant proposals.

"We are committed to helping West Tampa," said Alvarez, who grew up in the neighborhood.

Cynthia Miller, the city's growth management and development services director, said Thursday that she had not heard from the alliance and was giving it until New Year's Eve to respond.

If the alliance doesn't pursue the Guida House, the city will solicit ideas for the building.

Miller said the tenant must provide a community service and would be responsible for repairing the building. She didn't have an estimate on the repair costs but said those could be taken into account when setting the rent.

The city council requested a status report for its Jan. 17 meeting.

The former home of George Guida Sr. was named a local historic landmark in April 2005. Guida, who died in 1986 at age 71, was a civic leader and founder of George Guida & Son Home Furnishing and Decorating. He also was a founder and board member of Central Bank of Tampa and a building contractor.

The city bought the house in the 1990s for more than $400,000, along with two nearby homes Guida owned that were later torn down.

In 2005, work was done to protect the building, including boarding up the windows and erecting a fence around the property.

Reporter Jose Patino Girona can be reached at (813) 835-2110 or jpatino@tampatrib.com.

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