FORT MYERS, Fla. – The Historic Preservations Commission has hired Alessio Companies to strip paint from the historic Richards Building in downtown Fort Myers.

The Alessio Companies legal team presented evidence that no permit was required to paint the front façade because the sides of the building were already painted.

City staff disagreed, stating that any previously unpainted material would require commission approval.

Two Commission members felt excluded from this point: Gina Sabiston and Sawyer Smith.

During Tuesday’s meeting, city staff recommended denying the application for retrospective approval to paint facades, arguing that painting unpainted bricks is rarely acceptable and fundamentally changes the character of historic buildings.

The staff report stressed that there was no evidence that the Hendry Street façade had been painted before.

In addition to denying the application, the commission recommends that the paint be removed using the most gentle methods possible to preserve the historic integrity of the building. The property owners are expected to submit a detailed plan for removing the paint, which must be reviewed and approved by the commission before work can begin.

The building’s owners can still appeal the decision to the Fort Myers City Council.