Dallas panel approves four Spring Hill Suites signs in West End Historic District

The City of Dallas Special Sign District Advisory Committee approved four certificates of appropriateness Feb. 11 for signs proposed for a Spring Hill Suites by Marriott at 1907 North Lamar Street in the West End Historic Sign District.

The approvals covered three faux‑neon illuminated attached signs and one non‑illuminated flat sign proposed by Priority Signs and Graphics. Scott Roper, supervisor of the Sign Review and Inspections Team in the Planning and Development Department, told the committee staff recommends approval of the applications as presented.

The applications were for: a 24.2‑square‑foot illuminated upper‑level flat attached cabinet sign facing Lamar Street; an 18.5‑square‑foot illuminated projecting blade sign at the building’s east corner facing Lamar and Corbin streets; a 5‑square‑foot non‑illuminated lower‑level flat sign reading “Exit only — Do not enter” on Corbin Street; and a 15.6‑square‑foot illuminated upper‑level flat attached cabinet sign also facing Corbin Street. Roper said two of the signs had been submitted and approved previously in October 2023 but were withdrawn before City Plan Commission review; the other two have been revised since that earlier submittal.

Nick Caram, the applicant’s representative, said the designs are intended to replicate the look of traditional neon using a white faux‑neon LED system but that he did not yet have final clarity on which specific faux‑neon product would be used. “I don’t have clarity as to which system will be utilized at this moment,” Caram said; the committee requested that the applicant provide that specification before the project moves on to CPC or other land‑use review.

Committee members discussed legibility of the smaller garage/exit sign and whether its muted appearance could cause drivers to miss the marking. One member said the earlier signage was more conspicuous and that the proposed sign is intentionally subdued to avoid looking like an entrance. The staff noted that Landmarks has approved the required landmark certificates of appropriateness; Roper added that Real Estate review of the projecting (blade) sign was still pending.

A single motion to consider all four cases together carried, and a subsequent motion to approve all four signs passed on roll call with committee members recording affirmative votes. The committee also approved the meeting minutes as presented.

The committee recorded standard sign details in the application records: materials and colors listed as white, black and gray; channel‑letter style appearance with faux‑neon illumination for the illuminated signs; maximum projection of four inches for the flat signs; and mounting engineering included in the submission. Roper said the building involved dates to 1997 according to the applicant’s materials and that Landmarks had not noted special masonry mounting restrictions for these particular attachments.

The project will proceed to remaining land‑use reviews as required: the applicant must supply the final lighting system specification and obtain the outstanding Real Estate sign permit for the projecting blade sign before installation.