Wynwood Design and Review Committee - Regular Meeting

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will be opened during the meeting to accept comments and distribute to the committee members up until the chairperson closes public comment. Additionally, the city will accommodate any speakers designed to appear in person. When addressing the committee, the member of the public must first state his or her name, his or her address, and what item they will be speaking about. A video of this meeting may be requested at the Office of Communications or viewed online at www.miamigov.com. Please silence all cell phones and any other noise-making devices. Any person with a disability requiring auxiliary aid services for this meeting may notify the city liaison. Please note board members may have generally been briefed by city staff on items on the agenda today. In order to ensure that the public has the ability to view the meeting, the city's communications department will broadcast the meeting. The meeting can be viewed live on Miami TV, miamigov.com backslash TV, or Comcast Channel 77 within the city of Miami. The broadcast will also have closed captioning. Thank you.

Thank you. Let's proceed with the Pledge of Allegiance. So we did our call to order. Did we receive the request for absence waivers? Yes, we did.

Chair Dunlap, Member Omar, and Alternate Brenneman all requested waivers.

Excellent. Thank you. Can we get a motion? I have a motion to approve the request for absence waivers.

I move.

Any second?

Approved.

Approved. Thank you.

And we have a... I'm sorry, Chair. Who did the motion?

Kathy.

And the second was Member Zion? Yes, sir. Thank you.

Chair...

There are no online public comments. Can we close online public comments?

Public comments are closed.

Thank you. Thank you.

Moving forward, we have to approve the minutes from the April 21st, 2026 meeting. Can I get a motion for minutes approval, please?

I move for approval of the last minute meeting.

Thank you. Do we have a second?

Second.

Minutes are approved.

Correct?

Yes. My apologies. My first time doing this. All in favor of approval? Aye. The minutes are approved and passed. Thank you.

WDRC item number 1, minute track ID 19254, property address 57 Northwest 24th Street. Project name, Riza Nail Spa. Location, NRD 1, Wynwood. Transit zone T50. Application type, sign. WDRC requirement, all non-painted building identification and business identification signs within NRD1 or T5, T6, and D1 transit zones shall adhere to the Miami Zoning Code Article 10, Table 15 sign standards, and Wynwood signage guidelines.

Thank you.

Good morning. Good morning.

My name is Teresa, and the address of the location is, I'm sorry, 57 Northwest 24th Street, Miami, and it's for the Brisas Nail Spa. We are proposing a projecting sign. Actually, we did one right next to it called Sanas. It was similar to this one. The only thing is different is that the client on this one did not want it to be routed face. It wanted to be a plastic face with raised letters on top of it. It has a 116 raised letters and the plastic is going to be covered with a vinyl, with a graphics vinyl. That's about it. There's not too much to say about this. It's just a projecting sign. That's the only thing the gentleman wanted to have in that site.

Any questions from the board? on this sign. Any comments? If there are no questions or comments, we'll move to approve the proposal and get a motion for approval, please.

I move to approve.

Second.

All in favor? Motion is approved. Thank you.

Thank you.

WDRC item number 2, minute track ID 19253, property address 175 Northwest 23rd Street, project name 260, location NRD 1, Wynwood, transit zone T50, application type signage, WDRC requirement, all non-painted building identification and business identification signs within NRD 1, for T5, T6, and D1 transit zones shall adhere to the Miami Zoning Code, Article 10, Table 15 sign standards, and Wynwood signage guidelines. Thank you.

Good morning, Chair and members of the committee.

Good morning.

My name is Ashley Tapelle, and I'm here to present a proposed projecting blade sign for 175 Northwest 23rd Street in Wynwood. I represent Pro Print Shop and today we'll be discussing the project that is located in a highly active and pedestrian-oriented corridor known for its strong visual identity and artistic character. The proposal includes one double-sided south-facing blade sign mounted perpendicular to the facade to maximize visibility from the public right away. The sign is approximately 13.44 square feet. designed to remain proportional and pedestrian friendly while enhancing wayfinding. The design features a push through acrylic numerals 260 within a circular border with a white metal finish and internal LED illumination for clear nighttime visibility. In consideration of Wynwood's artistic environment, the sign is intentionally clean and minimal, allowing the surrounding murals to remain the focal point. The structure is fabricated from durable aluminum with concealed mounting, ensuring longevity, safety, and compliance with the Florida building code. Overall, the intent is to provide clear identification, enhance the streetscape, and contribute respectfully to the character Wynwood. Thank you for your time, and I'll answer any questions you may have.

I make a motion to approve this sign.

Thank you, Zion.

Good job. Thank you.

Second.

All those in favor?

Aye.

Aye. Aye. Thank you. Motion is approved and passes. Thank you.

Thank you.

WDRC item number three, minute track 19251, address 136, Northwest 27th Street. Project name, Coffee JP. Location, NRD 1, Wynwood, transit zone T5. Application type, sign. Thank you.

Hi, my name is Teresa. And the address of this location is 136 Northwest 27th Avenue. This is actually a light box. It does have plastic faces. It's actually something similar to the other one. It's going to have raised letters on the face. It's going to be installed directly on the wall. It's single-faced with LEDs. That's it. There's nothing, there's not much to say about this one either.

Is this the, on the presentation, the one that says the coffee?

Right. Okay. The thing is that we were trying to do something different, but you can't because these letters are so small on the part of the coffee.

Is this your first time presenting to the WDRC?

No, I've been here before once.

Usually we get, you know, like you'll put something up on the screen so we can look at it. Okay. I mean, I can give you what I have. It's fine. I have it here. I don't know if the rest of the guys have copies. But just in the future, make sure to bring something so that we can put it on the screen and see it.

I will.

This is a, so it's a flat piece of acrylic that gets, that's, that lights up from the back, and then it says the coffee dot and then Asian letters?

Correct. And those letters are going to be actually on like protruding from the plastic. It's actually raised, not flat on the plastic.

But is that whole white plastic going to be illuminated from the back?

Yes, it is.

I personally like it, but I think that there's a code issue with backlit signs like this one. There's a precedent image, there's a precedent example that was approved by the WDRC a couple years back, which is the 1-800-LUCKY sign that is similar to this one. I just don't know how the rest of the board feels about not following the Wynwood Design Review Board, you know, code and compliance with signage and backlit lights. Yeah, so it's, it's a, so it's this white thing, and it's a backlit,

It's actually front lit. I mean, the whole entire white is going to light up. Yeah.

And so it says the coffee dot and then this. Yeah.

Yes.

I don't mind it. It goes. What building is this? Which building is this?

I'm not exactly sure. I know that we did another sign next to it also. I think it was called, let me see if I have it here.

Yeah.

No, I don't.

Are you sharing examples of this type of sign appearing in Wynwood comparables? Does that exist in your application? No.

Not at the same scale.

I think he did submit something because they requested that they needed something similar to it. And I think he did, but I'm not exactly sure. I don't have the paperwork with me right here.

I would just, this is, if you guys have a different opinion, you can, but I would make a motion to reject it for the sole purpose of having people come prepared to present their signage with all of the details, precedent images, the relationship to the code compliance with, you know, Wynwood requirements, and all of that good stuff. Like I said, in the past, there have been signs that have been approved that are just like this one, but it doesn't meet the current code requirements, and we have to have an explanation for why you're proposing this sign. similar to what PrintPro just presented. The young lady came in.

I understand.

She practiced what she was going to say, rather than like, this is all I got.

You know what it was? Actually, they gave me short notice on this.

Yeah, it happens.

I came into the office on Friday, and they told me that it was for today.

I wasn't prepared for this.

We did do, I do have a suggestion for this one. Because I thought they were going to reject it. The only thing we have done before is a routed face. It's actually all aluminum with the push through of the... Like I said, I personally... That would be another option.

I personally like the sign. I have nothing against it. What I have a problem with is... that we don't get paid to be here. And I think that it's important for people who come here to take it seriously and take their time. And you could cancel and say, I'm not ready, and reschedule. So tell your office next time if you're not ready or there's some sort of cancellation. There's emergencies. They happen.

Okay.

All right?

Could I also... Just a request, unless I'm reading this wrong, I can't even tell where the sign is located, whether the coffee sign is above this billboard. Is this a coming soon? Is this the sign? So it's really hard to see it in the context of the final facade.

So I'm going to agree with Zion on this one. Go back with a note that we're really discouraging any big box blank plate, you know, thick back panel signs are things that we're actively discouraging in placing in Wynwood. So maybe they can look at something else to make it a bit more in line with what the feel of Wynwood is. So, Chair, I second Zion's motion to reject this sign at this time.

Okay, and do we have... All in favor? All in favor? Aye.

Cathy? Aye.

Just to confirm, if we are disapproving the sign, we're giving it a resolution, so it will then be for staff to work with the applicant on the redesign of the sign, and if the plan director determines to come back to WDRC, then it comes back to WDRC. Got it. Okay. It could also be a withdrawal and it's like they weren't here and then they come back. But that is... Is it possible just to defer it until they have to... No, we have to take an action.

Yeah, so that's your option is you can withdraw or you can have it rejected by us. Which one would you prefer?

Okay, what is actually the difference? Because I've never, they've always approved it and I'm not exactly sure.

Sure, so when you have a disapproval, you still get a resolution and then you work internally with the planning staff until that signed application improves and then the plan director will determine if you need to come back to WDRC or not. If you work on the improvements, you might not have to come back. If you do a withdrawal, then it's like you didn't come here today, and then you come back to the next meeting and present your project and then hear from the board at the time. So it's up to you.

I'm not exactly sure what to do. Okay. I mean, I can work. I think we can work with it. I mean, we can work with the board with the comments and see if we can fix it.

We've done it before.

No, you know what? I'll withdraw. I'll withdraw. And I'll come back with a proposal. No problem. And more.

The next meeting is July 14. So we'll discuss internally so that we have your updated application by the deadline. 14. 14?

Okay. I'll come prepare then.

Okay, wait.

Sorry, June. Yeah, it's June. Sorry, I skipped a month. We're in May. We have the June meeting.

Wait, wait.

So WDRC Item 3 is now withdrawn?

But this is the thing. We technically passed the motion, so somebody needs to... Move to vacate that motion.

I move to withdraw the motion.

Wait, vacate the motion.

I move to vacate the motion. All in favor?

All in favor? Aye. Okay, so now that the motion technically has been vacated, right, there is no disapproval or approval, the applicant has decided to withdraw its application for the record. And it will be scheduled, you want June or you want July?

JUNE 16TH.

WDRC ITEM NUMBER 4, MANITRACK ID 19252, PROPERTY ADDRESS 301 NORTHWEST 25TH STREET. PROJECT NAME BROOKER'S CORNER, LOCATION NRD 1 WYNWOOD, TRANSIT ZONE T50, This is a new construction application. WDRC requirement, all new buildings within the NRD 1 boundaries shall be referred to the Wynwood Design Review Committee, WDRC, which shall review the application on its design merits and compatibility with the neighborhood and provide its comments and recommendations to the director for Chapter 2 of the City Code. Thank you.

Hello, everybody. Good morning. Thank you for your time today. My name is Jordan Gimmelstein.

Jordan, your mic's not on. Oh, how do I? I think, yeah, you're good.

Can you hear me now? Yeah. Good morning, everybody. My name is Jordan Gimmelstein. I'm the developer of the project at 301 Northwest 25th Street. I've been working in the Wynwood neighborhood for over 12 years in commercial real estate, and over that time, I've had the opportunity to watch the neighborhood evolve into one of the most unique creative districts in the country. This project has been a long process for us, and we have been working on it for the past several years. Our goal from the beginning was to create something that feels authentic to Wynwood and contributes positively to the streetscape and pedestrian experience. The proposed building is about 4,000 square feet divided into four smaller spaces intended for gallery, boutique retail, and small food and beverage uses. We believe these smaller format spaces are important for preserving the creative and entrepreneurial character for the neighborhood rather than creating a large single-user space. We also worked closely with our architect and art curator on the facade and artistic treatment to create a building that feels visually engaging, contemporary, and appropriate for Wynwood's identity as an art-driven neighborhood. The project is intended to activate the corner in a meaningful way while remaining scaled appropriately for the site and surrounding contexts. The rendering and facade art concept reflect that vision. In addition, we believe that this project will help add activity and pedestrian energy along Northwest 3rd Avenue between 25th and 26th Street, helping tie this stretch into the greater connectivity and activation occurring throughout the rest of the corridor and Wynwood as a whole. We're excited about the opportunity to finally move this project forward and believe it will be a thoughtful addition to the neighborhood and the community overall. At this time, I'd like to introduce our architect, Ethan, from R&B, and our art curator, Aramis, who will walk everyone through the design, architecture, and artistic vision for the project.

Thank you.

Good morning, members of the board. I trust you all had a nice Memorial Day weekend. It's good to see you here this morning. My name is Ethan Royal. I'm the architect with Royal Beekervis Architecture and Design, located at 6001 Northwest 7th Avenue, Miami, Florida. just uh give you a quick intro to the location the project is located on the corner of northwest third avenue and northwest 25th street it is currently a vacant parcel in a t50 or o transect if we look at the existing context of the property to orientate you within the district you'll notice the windward garage is located towards the north which is a very popular landmark within this District and the new Moxie Hotel sits across the street to the east. If you take a look here at the existing block in context, you'll notice that the existing fabric of this specific location is primarily single-story, approximately 15 feet tall. Our project is around 25 feet to the top of the roof slab and considered a two-story structure. As it relates to the development, we are utilizing almost 80% of the lot coverage capacity. The ground floor area is just shy of 3,500 square feet, with a total floor area of 4,500 square feet divided between the ground floor and a mezzanine level. The actual development capacity is at 26% of the overall allowable floor area of the specific site, so the developer has taken an opportune to really cap the development potential in keeping with the existing blocking character of the neighborhood. This is the proposed project. So you can see what we've done here is taken an opportunity to break down the scale and massing of the building by introducing four retail tenants, which is individually modulated across both frontages along 3rd Avenue and 25th Street. Each of the storefronts have their own signage marquee that divides the upper glazing and the lower ground floor level to encourage transparency between the public realm and the actual retail tenants behind the glazing. You'll notice that we have an interesting notion on this building architecture where we flared out the edges of the columns to provide more surface area for the art treatment. So visually, when you read that building, when you're viewing the project from the streets, you actually see more of the artwork rather than seeing the right angles of the columns, which would be a traditional setup for a structure such as this. One thing to note, because of the size of the building, we are not required to have any on-site parking, taking advantage of the building's 20,000 square feet or less. I did mention that each of the retail tenants has a second floor, or what we call a mezzanine, which is a third of the floor below. So these are small storage platforms for future tenants to take advantage of increasing their storage capacity. We do have some diagrams as part of this presentation. I'm happy to answer any questions for you. But to summarize the code compliance on the art treatment, On the first street level, the first 12 feet, we do meet the requirement of 20%. We're actually at 24%. And then for the total facade, we are at 41%, where 25% is required. I do have the plans here. It's a simple building. If you have questions, I can highlight specific design attributes if you have them. We do also have the landscape drawings here. It's very minimal. We're beating the minimum code as it relates to the street trees around the perimeter of the property. And then I'd like to introduce you to Aramis, who is our art consultant, who will give you a little bit of information on the art concept of the facade.

Hi, everybody. My name's Aramis Gutierrez. I did consulting for this project. I'm a local in the area.

Please speak into the mic. Oh, thank you.

Better? You can pull it down closer to your mouth. Better? Yes. Wonderful. Thank you. I've lived and worked in the area for about 17 years. I work for a company called Wovo. So I am a local. I traverse this area every day. And I'm familiar with the streets and the visual vernacular of the area. So in thinking about this project, I reached out to several art groups. The one that was chosen was a local artist group called We're Nice and Easy. It's a husband and wife couple comprised of Jeffrey Noble and Allison Matherly. They do murals and sculptures and interior design. They've done several prominent projects in the area and used to have murals at Wynwood, but they no longer exist. I thought it was nice to bring in a local art group because there's so many, I mean, Wynn has a pretty international feel to it, but I think it's important that we still have our local artists represented. And just as a local, I know that that intersection is a very hot, humid place, and I wanted to try to cool it down. How do I spell that?

How do I go to the next page now?

So we looked at some of the other projects in the area that also have like a Florida native theme that are cooler, reflect our kind of wet environment here in South Florida. Obviously, the kind of light architecture that's in our motif that's involved in the windward garage and some of the other murals in consideration for how this building should look and feel. And it's also westward facing, or you would see it from the west if you're looking at the facade, which incorporates the sunset. So the motif is actually like a sunset reflected on water kind of feel to it. Other than that, it's sustainable. It's made with Sherwin paint, which is all color coordinated and has numbers. So if anything gets damaged or tagged over, it can be easily repaired. Anyone have any questions about the art?

Can you show us the south elevation?

It's the elevation there on the bottom left.

I see it. Are there any comments from the board?

So there's another on the presentation. There's one with the pool. Is that the same project? And is that a different project?

Those were the contextual art precedent projects, which this one here.

Oh, sorry. So yeah, it's the resume that's attached to this for Nice and Easy with the pool.

Yeah. Not by Nice and Easy, just by other artists.

So this is a pretty uniform.

Yeah.

Sorry?

It's the same treatment on each of the facades.

Yes, correct.

And is it painted?

Yes, it will be painted.

Is there any way that you could just blow it up to detail, blow it up to see it closer?

We can try. Does that help?

Who's Nice and Easy? The artist? Okay, got it.

And is there anything they're trying to convey or just decorative?

I think it's just to bring the temperature down in the area. You know, it's a highly, it's a lot of traffic in that area. There's a lot of tourists, a lot of locals. Right now, the lot is just, you know, light, a lot of reflective heat in that area. So, you know, in speaking to like the local nature, the local kind of aesthetic or colloquial kind of vernacular, I thought it was just appropriate to kind of speak to the other examples in the area. And I really did want to utilize the westward facing sunset because it's such a feature here in South Florida.

I'm not the curator in the team, but I have no objections to the art. I think it's nice.

I think that Nice and Easy is a great selection for artists, and I'm familiar with their work in the neighborhood for a very long time. I wish this facade had more art on it. I think although it meets the size requirement, There's no ground-level art, and I think it's missing the mark in delivering a more art moment, other than more of a decorative, textured moment that I can interpret from what I'm seeing. If you look around in the image, you'll see on the left side of that image that there's a mural by a German artist named Lumet that will no longer be there when you cover it up. And it's a major mural moment that the neighborhood is going to lose and I don't think that's substituting a Sort of this textural effect that nice and easy is known for really delivers or adds to the Art landscape that it's that Wynwood is known for quite the contrary. I think that this is too subtle of a touch from an art perspective And I would encourage to perhaps consider perhaps on the south elevation to extend to have more mural space that they could actually have a real moment, not just around the windows in this sort of decorative touch. That's my recommendation.

If I may, that's a really important comment. And I think it's important to address the potential disconnect in the code where it requires 70% glazed at the storefront level. at the street level. And we're supposed to meet 20%. So therefore, you only have 10% to meet the structural component, which is basically the area that you would have left over for artwork. So rather than it being a criticism potentially on the design, I think it's actually a code disconnect between the two ideals. So I just wanted to highlight that.

Yeah. My comments, just to start out with, I think that the team has done a fantastic job presenting the project. It's a small project, but even though it's a small project, I know RMB's architecture, and they don't care about the size of the project. They put as much energy on a small project. as they do on a big project. So the detailing on how the facade turns into the glass, all these little details make a huge difference. I agree about your comment about the code, and there could be opportunities to change the code. And I know how your office understands the importance of presenting the art at this point of time. And so you guys hired a curator, you know, and went through the process. There's a lot of developers that don't even know what a curator does. And so you brought him here today to talk about the art. And they selected one of the most, you know, influential artists down here in South Florida. So I think as a team, you guys did a great job presenting today. I have no objections, just a suggestion. There's been an issue in South Florida in general with covered space that comes from the canopy of the trees. And I would like you guys to consider maybe really diving into the tree canopy and what would make sense for that space for people to walk through. That particular street is very hot. So it's interesting that you guys, as an art curator, thought about an art piece that made you feel cooler. So that's an interesting concept and theory. Maybe that works. The landscape moment in this rendering shows some bushes that match with planting that matches the facade. I don't know if that's actually going to articulate into real you know, architecture and landscaping moments, but, you know, it's a huge impact on the, on Wynwood, what landscaping goes in these little parts of a small spend to give the neighborhood a landscape moment, I think is important.

So can you clarify if that landscaping is in fact part of the, is integrated into the art piece or is that just a rendering?

That was coincidental for the rendering but I think it works beautifully and I agree.

Or something that ties the landscape. I mean I don't mind the subtlety of it and I know who the group is so I know them by reputation more than I mean I've seen them do a little bit more interesting things but I get the point and yeah I would like to see that if there were like some sort of streetscaping that they actually proposed to sort of enhance what they're proposing on the so that it isn't just street decoration, but something that's integral and ties in with their facade treatment.

So I know that the landscape might be highly dictated by public works and those divisions, but I really don't have any comments. I think it was very well presented. I would just say because it's such a hot corner that architecturally, you look at the reflectivity of the glass that's selected for those storefronts, so it doesn't really cook those pedestrians as they walk down the street. Being somebody who walks from the taco place to Pastis and back to my office, I'm sure I'll be by there, but that would just be my only comment to you.

Okay, well, we'd love to have you as a future guest or potential customer of these retail spaces, but The code as well, all of the glass has to be clear, so there will be low reflectivity. Obviously, meeting the required energy code is the only other consideration.

Have the tenants already been identified or not yet?

Sorry?

Have you guys identified any tenants yet?

Jordan?

No, not yet. Okay. All right, sounds good. The interior lighting on the rendering, I'm assuming, is probably just a hold.

Absolutely. Everything you see on the interior, including the signage, which will be under a future permit.

Okay. All right. Sounds good. I make a motion to approve this project with the suggestion that they reconsider what the planting material will look like. Any other suggestions from the staff before I make a motion? No?

I second the motion.

All in favor? Aye. Aye. Thank you so much, guys. Good job. Thank you so much. Thank you for your time.

Yeah.

Thank you for your time.

Are we done?

We are done.

Just need a motion to adjourn. Motion to adjourn the meeting.

And just to clarify our notes, the last one was approved with a condition, right? No condition. Approved with a condition.

Just a suggestion to reconsider the landscape. Thank you. Move to adjourn.

All in favor? Aye. Meeting's adjourned. Thank you very much.

Great meeting you all.

you you I feel deeply appreciative of the opportunity I have received. Being a first-time home buyer, I'm just at awe that I have the opportunity to be here, to be able to have a set of keys to call home.

I want to thank God. I feel amazing. I want to thank everybody from the city of Miami who's been working so hard to get us in. Just lost for words since they have finally came. Thank you, Lord.

And I hope there is other people that would not give up and continue to search and find ways to be a homeowner because it's possible today.

Two new families that will be moving into these wonderful houses. They are both three bedrooms townhouses located in our community that will allow them to be first-time homebuyers. It's another wonderful opportunity to give back to our community.

We're providing subsidy for the buyers for Eligible home buyers that haven't owned a home within the last three years. These houses are approximately 1,600 square feet, three bedrooms, two baths. We're really excited about it as an opportunity for someone to experience an American dream. They can plant their roots here in this community, not like renting a property that's their own part of the city of Miami.

We have turned a vacant lot into two families forever home. We're building generational wealth, and now they are coming home to their home. No one is going...