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Wynwood panel clears Starbucks sign after conditioning design, façade details
Summary
The Wynwood Design Review Committee recommended approval of a channel‑letter sign for a proposed Starbucks at 2431 Northwest 2nd Avenue, subject to three conditions: clarify building façade/backdrop, submit the full signage package, and explore design options to better fit Wynwood's arts district character.
The Wynwood Design Review Committee on a voice/roll‑call vote recommended approval of a building‑identification sign for a proposed Starbucks at 2431 Northwest 2nd Avenue, with conditions aimed at preserving the arts‑district character of Wynwood.
Committee members said the proposed white acrylic channel letters, described by the applicant as 17.18 square feet, did not clearly reflect Wynwood signage goals and asked the applicant to submit additional context and alternative design options. Gina Penny of Atlas Signs described the sign as “acrylic channel letters in white, at 17.18 square feet.”
The committee’s request for additional information centered on three points: a clearer depiction of the building façade or backdrop behind the letters; submission of the full signage package (including blade and hanging signs that the applicant said were part of the original permit set); and exploration of alternate approaches — including mounted lettering that stands off the wall or creative, site‑sensitive materials — that would better reflect Wynwood’s artistic identity.
Members said some comparables submitted by the applicant relied on backgrounds with murals or more complex building facades, which visually tempered the prominence of corporate letters. “There have been some very crafty ways that Starbucks has worked into the architecture of the building instead of applying to the façade,” one member said during deliberations.
The applicant said permitting delays had left the store without any sign and that the team had submitted only one of three proposed items to expedite opening. The committee’s conditions require the applicant to return with the full signage package and additional façade detail; the panel indicated the current approval allows the single sign to proceed only after those items are addressed.
Action: Recommendation for approval with conditions; vote recorded as 4‑0 in favor.
The committee’s decision is advisory to staff and the city’s permitting process; staff will confirm submittal requirements and any subsequent changes when the applicant returns with revised materials.
