Wynwood Design and Review Committee - Regular Meeting

Do we need a motion to close the public? No, we don't. All right. Public comment period is closed. Thanks. The minutes approval for February 10th, 2026. Do I have a motion for the approval of those if there were no comments?

Thank you, Kathy. Second? Second. Don't be shy. Do I have a second to close the February 10th, 2026? Second.

Thank you. I have to keep track of this. So when Ricky asked me next week what was done, I can defer to notes. Super. All for a motion for minutes approval, Feb 10. All righty. Sounds like it's unanimous. Wonderful. All righty, and with that, Andrea and Ricky, if we can tee up the first agenda item or resolution item.

So quick question. The image you just showed on the lower one, the perspective from the street. Yes. And then the apparatus signature image there, which is quite nice with the sun and the figure. Is that, that's not shown below. I just want to be clear. Correct.

And what is the, how's the, how is that graphically presented? Is that paint? Is it tile? Is it metal rods?

That's what your board shows, right? Your material board shows the stucco?

I think it's great. Any comments or questions?

I think the design is great. The simplicity is great. But have you thought about this as Wynwood? And the reason why I asked if it was tile stucco, Because it's stucco, have you thought about how this building in the future might get spray painted or might get, because it is, it's stucco. A lot of the buildings have art. That's the reason. So has that been thought out? I mean, it looks great here, but.

So we have a motion with comments. Do we have a second? Thank you, Heidi. Great comments. Thank you very much.

All right. We have a motion and a second. All in favor? Aye. That was a great presentation. You're approved, but just unrelated. It was a very thorough and very well thought out presentation. Can't wait to see your shop. Appreciate that. See how cerebral it is. That's great. Great.

So if you could go back, unless you actually have the spot. Could you, well, that site plan is good. Yes. So where the letter A is, that's where it's proposed? Yes.

I'm curious, how does it tie back to the building, or is it just a separate design? How does the signage, the cord and steel tie back to the actual building, or is it separate?

How does the aesthetics of 410 steel versus the architecture of the building? Correct, yes. How do they work together? Yeah. It seems to be an added element. Yeah.

I guess my question was, like, I was saying, how... It seems like this looks very different than what the signage for the building is, the materiality. Was that intentional, or?

Would you go back to your, I think it's your first slide that shows the site plan and the two elevations.

This one kind of strikes me, and I don't take this as a criticism. It just feels a bit of an afterthought. Well, I think the material and the location, and I'm just one voice. But it strikes me as a developer, the location of the sign will be hidden a lot if you're coming Eastbound on 27th, it'll be difficult to see because of the neighboring property. And westbound on 27th, it's partially hidden by the corner of the building. It appears to be. From a drawing point of view, it may not be.

And hence my observation of afterthought. It just feels like based on the physical conditions, it might have wanted been designed into the building. And then I think the material is, it's a handsome material. That portent in and of itself is beautiful, but it just, it's a little bit out of the normal palette of the architecture here.

Yeah, just to be clear, I think the member's comment is that the panel on the rendering that says the art of living begins here might be from a visibility point of view and an association of a sign with the project. better placed there, just as an observation.

I think my comments are the corten steel does fit in Wynwood. It's a very rustic material. However, I don't see it fitting with this building and its application. I do agree the location is a little bit awkward. I mean, my comments would be to rethink design into something that fits more into the actual aesthetics of the existing building because it does look out of place.

Okay. If there's no other comments, could we have a motion?

Patricia, if I'm allowed to do this, may I pass the gavel so that I may make a motion? Okay. Do I need to appoint somebody? I'll pass the gavel to Heidi for the remainder of this. Sorry?

Vice Chair's absent. Okay. I'm going to move that this not be approved. And the two, I'm going to summarize the comments in simplicity, I hope, which is difficult for a man of verbosity. I think the two prevailing comments are, number one, that the location of the sign feels awkward. It's not our job to say whether from a marketing and business point of view it'll work or not work, but it just feels awkward and semi-hidden. I would we would encourage you to explore other locations for it. Secondly, I think the material, albeit, although the material in and of itself is not a problem, its locat

Thank you. All in support of the recommended disapproval? Aye. Aye. Anyone else? Are there any recommend, any votes that would be in favor of an approval? So are we all, I didn't hear all the comments, are we all in support of a disapproval?

I believe it's all present have voted for the disapproval of it. Heidi has to say it.

Yeah, I think the Friendly advice would be revisit where the sign goes physically, and that may help inform you of what the material of the sign design should be.

Just one question. I may have missed this earlier. What is the relationship between this and the building next door? There's no relationship. Not the same developer?

And just while we're interrupting you will try to do it all one time in the renderings over here is the brick next door the. Final solution or the lighter one below. Yeah, there's two options there, aren't there? There's a light one below.

So the side of what you mentioned earlier that the art that's shown on that rendering and on the rendering here is a placeholder graphics. Is that the same for the big flat side facade, that that's a placeholder? Yeah. What's the material behind that? Is that brick facade as well?

So I guess what we're looking at here and are wearing our WDRC hats is the placeholder for the graphics. Is there a signage element yet? Will there be or just not yet? If there is, it'll be under a separate permit. Okay. Mayor Mrakas, So thoughts motions i've got a couple little comments and suggestions, the can you hear me yeah but.

Yeah, I want to commend you in terms of the site that you had to work with. I think you did a lot. I mean, it's a small site. And I agree with my colleague's comments. I think it's a great use of space internally. So I bet it was a challenge. Piggybacking on Sian's comments, my only comment would be it's like a vertical, beautiful, slim building. And I would try to think how, I know you want to tie it together, but how this building, because it's so linear and skinny and it's an urban infill project, kind of stands out on its own. That would be my only suggestion. I think it's beautiful. It's

All in favor? Aye. Unanimous. Thank you. Thank you so much. Nice job. People are excited when you make a presentation.

Absolutely. My last comment was in the facade in the front that it should be articulated. So it's a suggestion that it doesn't look like the building next to it. There's a little differentiation between the two facades.

And while our return friend gets set up here, as we've done in the past, there's two applications here. There's 18974 followed by 75. One is the facade sign. The other is the blade. A blade sign. Yeah, that's correct. Suspended, whatever, perpendicular sign. Projecting sign. So I assume one presentation, and then we'll vote on the two. two buckets separately, but you can only make the, you can only have to make the pitch once. Okay, perfect.

Why don't you go ahead and show us the blade signs?

If you scroll up, do you have an elevation that shows both of them?

Do you have an elevation of the loading dock that shows both? And if not, if you just go back to your first application. Just take a look at the. This one here? There it is, right there. Come, come, come, come, good. One more image down. Yeah, just hold up there. That'll kind of, that shows enough. Hold on that one. Comments, thoughts? It's kind of a tricky, as simple as it is, it's kind of a tricky signage application to look at because I think the signage works, notwithstanding other board members I'm not... singling that out. But what's interesting about it is all of the projects that we lo

Second. All righty. Got a motion. Got a second. All in favor?

That is for application 18974. Sit tight. Same for the blade, application 18975. Do we have a motion? Thank you. Second?

Aye. It's unanimous. I assume just through the building, does this space, I assume there's a fit out of a lounge or a bar inside. that has to go through. I'm looking at you, you're like, I don't know, I didn't sign it. Is there an approval through the building department on this?

There's just some... little guy in the back of my head saying, wow, you know, you got people queuing up at a fire exit and you got the fireman's control and all that. As long as there's a permit review session that goes unrelated to us.

But thank you. I need a good night's sleep.

One quick question that I have. You said that this is a reinterpretation. Is the Frida Kahlo name... attached to the Frida Kahlo Foundation in Mexico, or is it separate?

Is the existing building part of the project?

Can you stay on that for a minute? So NRD1 and T6, is that what you said? Correct. And then the brownish areas, NRD2 and T5.

I have a devilish question to ask, pardon my ignorance. Is the limit of the Wynwood, it was a question I had earlier, is the limit of the Wynwood WDRC zone, little z, is that 29th?

Our purview is the 12-story part of the building. Yes. And there might be some... plinth level parking pool or whatever, but not facing south from 30th for the five-story. To your point of... of head scratching, it's just one more variable to add. The good news is they're both in the state of Florida.

Kind of figuring out how wide the field is.

Go ahead and just put that on an easel so we can see it.

If you can hold on that. Somebody was skimming through pages in the presentation and there was a street level view showing what was underneath the arcade or Paseo. It was that view, but I thought I saw somebody skip by. I think it was this one here. It had the artwork underneath.

And just as a question, why the color and animation there but not on the 29th Street facade?

I'm not sure what I think of that, but just hold that question. A question for the landscape architect. Why not... continue the palm trees on the 29th side, which really what we've got jurisdiction over talking about today.

Okay, so the Wynwood design guidelines don't allow trees along the 29th?

And what are those? Yeah, not the median, the planting edge.

Splendid. And really, for the attorney question, you mentioned earlier the adjacent property and buying or acquiring some of the upper... I assume air rights, future development rights. Is that building as it sits then limited at that height? They can't build higher in the future and sort of block Frida's chin or anything?

Yeah, I'm trying to really make sure that we've got an understanding as we think about the rendering of the interpretation of Frida on the facade. And I won't attempt to repeat Zion's comments about artistic interpretation, all of that. I thought was very well said. What I'm more curious about is that the adjacent developer decides to do whatever height they're allowed to do, and does that leave you with a kind of Frida looking over a fence kind of a thing?

So without putting words in your mouth, just so I'm going to repeat back what I think I understand is that typically we would get art as a placeholder at this stage of the game, subject to future hiring muralists and so forth. Are you saying that in this case, the final product is going to look very similar to this because of what's already been approved by the Frida Kahlo? Correct.

That's an easy thing. In concert with that, you may have just ended on that note, would you consider, is it possible and would you consider bringing the kind of the artwork underneath the Paseo that's on the 30th side around to the 29th side?

I think the building, I don't have a problem with, I think some of my colleagues said with the building. I'm not even looking at the color portrait. I do think that it's, and I commend you with all the work you've done. I think it needs one more... one more step in terms of what the public realm is. When you're walking in Wynwood, it's this beautiful paseos, you see them. I mean, and the Frida Kahlo images is up above. But I would, to me, I would definitely think and we're not here to design your building, but my suggestion is that right now it's a step behind what the, if you were to look at

Yeah, I mean, I like the simplicity. It's just, I mean, this is, I mean, I like the, this is Wynwood, and I think exploring those opportunities, I mean, if you go to the Frida Kahlo Museum in Mexico, I mean, I don't think you could find anything white in there. I believe it's blue or purple. It's, there's not a speck of white. So, looking at that, it enriches, and even the architecture will enrich the materiality. That's my only, in terms of the public realm of the building, the ground floor.

Well, before we call for a vote, I just think, and since we're in a public record, I do want to thank the applicant. for bringing your team here, landscape architecture, architecture, marketing, legal. It makes for a really good engaged dialogue and you can tell that you've got an exciting idea here by the quantity of that dialogue and exchange and your reception and open-mindedness. So it makes our job fun.

So do any of our brave colleagues here want to venture a motion with comments or notes? There's nobody more brave than you, Heidi. Come on, Heidi. I have one.

I gave you two more minutes to think about that.

I move for approval with the following conditions, that the... East facade is that the ownership maintains the east facade and its art aspect, whether it's running with a covenant in lieu with the adjacent property, and that's documented as part of their permit conditions. that the applicant consider additional art treatment on the lower promenade on the 29th Street facade to explore additional color aspects?

They already said they're proposing a GFRC. which normally is white, but so. They say they're proposing a GFRC. It's gonna be painted stucco.

So I don't know the specifics on what land use is going to do, but if you have procured in some way, shape, or form the air rights and the density of your neighbor and built it into your building, there's some type of legal relation.

to not have her picture on the wall, right?

And I don't disagree, and I know that this is getting a little wordy, so I'll put a pin in it, but I don't want anyone to think that if you eliminate the mural on the east side and you're implementing some artwork in those little arches, that that one negates the other. Because that big mural on that east facade is everything.

I think you were all present for the Mohawk presentation. And this has a little bit of a similar situation that Mohawk, at the end of the day, their application to WDRC has to really kind of be based on what they can do on that street elevation. Because that side elevation that they showed is a blank canvas with kind of a, a black and white pattern placeholder is subject to change. Neighboring building that they don't control. You've got a little bit of that situation here. I think you're much further down the road on it than they would be as far as being subject to the whims. But I think what

I personally would feel most comfortable to see kind of the redraw. of the 29th Street facade. Is that your point Andrea?

Not changing Heidi's motion. My comfort level, just one person's comfort level would be, go ahead.

Because if it's a painted as opposed to an applied, like one of the screens or something, even if the other building was eight stories, may not be ideal, but something would technically still be there.

Second. We have a motion for approval with conditions, not a return. With the two conditions that I won't repeat, It's been summarized well enough. And then second from Member Zion, we'll call for a vote. All in favor of that recommendation with conditions?

Before we go, I believe you had a discussion item?

I mean, it's something that their department has gotten very, very strict on, and it may be able to be mutually beneficial for the area by you know addressing something that has an interesting stylistic approach as well as maybe even meeting with FPNL on what poles are what light heads are approved for certain areas the poles the pole right but there's much smaller municipalities that are doing similar and I think that would be interesting

Right. But you can get it down to, let's say, four, that the poles are all the same, and you have head style one, two, three, four, but, you know, like I said, smaller, I think Florida City has done it, Homestead's done it, some smaller areas that I think that if we look at it, it would be advantageous.

Well, before you skate off and turn that off, would you just go back one slide, please? I'm looking, help me find, are there public hearing slots or public hearing dates along the timeline here to Zion's point where we're allowed to get a, this, you know, a couple hours of public dialogue? Yes. Okay. For end of March. Thanks.

streetscape heavy, I just think that meeting sooner than later with zoning, parking, public works and fire for those external elements are going to be so pivotal, you know, because you're going to have some things that are constraints you can't overcome. And then how do you live with those? That may kind of dictate some things.

Maybe we could do two things to wrap up. One is, can you send this to us electronically? Yes. And secondly, is there a summary of the Gensler scope of service?

That would be good to look at because it'd be interesting to Heidi's point, to Zion's point of, you know, in their scope of service, does it talk about street furniture? Does it talk about lighting? Does, you know, It may help us understand how high an altitude or how low an altitude they're drilling into things. Thanks.