La Jolla\u2019s Chase Bank branch on Girard Avenue, which has a storied recent history, is undergoing remodeling. Though the intent is to improve the building\u2019s aesthetics, a piece of public art painted on one of the bank\u2019s exterior walls for the Murals of La Jolla program is being covered with gray vinyl slats.<\/p>\n
Artist Michael Mercil painted the mural, dubbed \u201cArt is Good for You,\u201d<\/a> in 2023 on the building at 7777 Girard, facing Silverado Street. It is about a half-block long and consists of orange and red capital letters that spell out its title across a blue background. At the time it was painted, organizers said it was intended to remain for the next few years, though a concept for a new mixed-use building was being proposed for the site.<\/p>\n Murals of La Jolla Executive Director Taylor Chapin told the La Jolla Light this week that she wasn\u2019t told the mural would be covered up and found out only when the slats were being placed over it.<\/p>\n Chapin said she met in November with representatives of Chase Bank about the property and the mural and\u00a0\u201cat that time, there was no indication the mural would be removed or covered.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThe property is owned by Chase Bank, [but] Murals of La Jolla was not informed or consulted prior to the mural being covered,\u201d Chapin said. \u201cAs the organization that commissioned and has stewarded the artwork, we would typically expect to be notified in advance of changes affecting a mural.\u201d<\/p>\n Chase said in a statement to the Light this week that the branch, which is open to customers during the work, is being renovated in phases, with completion expected in early fall.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cUpdates include refreshed common areas and ground-floor lobby, exterior repainting and plaza resurfacing with new landscaping,\u201d according to the statement. \u201cThese improvements reflect our continued investment in a modern, community-focused experience in La Jolla.\u201d<\/p>\n The property once was eyed for a complete teardown and construction of a mixed-use complex, but the work now being done is independent of those plans.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n In 2022, a group of about 30 investors purchased the building<\/a> and the parking lot behind it and drafted plans to convert the site into a mixed-use development<\/a> with commercial spaces on the ground floor and residential units on the upper floor. The plans garnered support from local planning groups.<\/p>\n The investors\u2019 intent in buying the property was to \u201ctear down that eyesore and build something new that would be a transformation for that corner,\u201d said Jack McGrory, one of the local investors. \u201cWe always thought it wasn\u2019t the most attractive building on Girard, and we thought we could develop it and make more improvements to the place.\u201d<\/p>\n