Quincy Historic Commission gives the okay for Gadsden County Times paint job

The Quincy Historic Commission recently gave the owners of the Gadsden County News Corporation the greenlight to resume painting The Gadsden County Times’ new home.

In December, the Times announced its building at 9 West King Street was getting a fresh coat of paint and a new look.

Painting on the Times’ building began Monday, December 14.

The next morning a stop work order from the City of Quincy’s Building and Planning Department was placed on the door.

The first floor was nearly completed in one day, but there hasn’t been any progress since.

While part of The Times’ new building is painted a bright red, the majority remains a pastel yellow.

As the February 3 meeting began, Joe Munroe, with the Quincy Historic Commission, told Times owners: “If you’re going to change the color scheme, then you select from the historic palette and you do a submittal.”

In other words, Munroe said, the Historic Review is not involved at all, unless the colors are being changed.

Mark Pettus, publisher of The Times , spoke on behalf of the company during the meeting.

He submitted a packet to the historic commission that contained a photograph of a building with a similar color scheme to what he was going for.

Pettus said it was his intention to get permission for painting the building, but said he was under the impression he didn’t have to because of information he received from someone in the building department.

“It’s a beautiful color and it looks amazing on that building,” Pettus said.

Pettus noted that the building was built in 1902 and was moved to its current location in 1998.

He said that was when all of the buildings on the block named “The Gathering” (the city block on the corner of Adams and King streets) were painted pastel colors.

He pointed out that the idea of neighborhoods being designed with coordinated colors is a modern concept.

The Gadsden County Times office on West King Street has been half-painted for several months due to a confusion between the historic commission and building owners. A recent meeting of the Quincy Historic Commission has allowed painting to resume.

Pettus, who also publishes The Havana Herald and several other newspapers throughout North Florida, said he appreciates history.

“I didn’t buy a house like this because we just needed another office space,” Pettus said. “We had a great space over by The Leaf [Theater].”

Pettus said he bought the King Street building because he appreciates the architecture behind the structure.

Pettus told the members of the commission he would like to continue painting the building Heritage Red, because he’s already invested several thousands of dollars into the paint.

He said he thought Benjamin Moore’s Heritage Red was historically and culturally appropriate.

The members of the commission noted the color of the building in the picture Pettus submitted was more of a brown-tone red.

After looking at a Benjamin Moore Historical Colors chart, they agreed the color in the picture was closer to Country Redwood, which is a darker red with a brownish tint.

Munroe acknowledged that Pettus did everything he thought was right.

“What you all have presented is perfect – absolutely perfect – it’s the sort of thing that needs to be each and every time somebody makes an application to do something that affects their building,” Munroe said referring to the packet Pettus submitted to the commission during the meeting.

Joel Sampson, who is also on the historic commission and also owns a building in “The Gathering”, two doors down from the Times , said very often Heritage Red is used as an accent paint, rather than the full-building coverage the Times was using it for.

Sampson also said it’s important to look at the context of surrounding buildings.

“If that look is what you’re going for, I’d have no problem if it was the Country Redwood,” Sampson said, while looking at the photo Pettus submitted.

Pettus maintains that someone from Building and Planning told him Heritage Red was an approved color, and he said that’s the only color that was given to him.

Nonetheless, he told the historic commission he would gladly paint his building the darker red if they approved it.

The commission voted unanimously to allow The Times’ building to be painted Country Redwood.

After the meeting, Pettus said he’s glad it’s over and he’s glad it turned out the way it did.

“I wanted it red; the red we were originally going with is one they gave me,” Pettus said. “This new red is wonderful, and I think it’s going to be a beautiful house.”

Erin Hill - erin@gadsdencountytimes.com

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Quincy Historic Commission gives the okay for Gadsden County Times paint job

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