La Jolla planners to ask for Chase building revamp

Last Updated on May 1, 2025

Local leaders want the new building owners to consider previously approved upgrades.

A month after plans to redesign the Chase Bank building at 7777 Girard Ave. in The Village were scrapped because the bank bought the building back from the new owners, the La Jolla Community Planning Association wants to ask the bank to consider ideas for renovation.

La Jolla resident Jack McGrory and other local investors bought the property in 2022 and hired a team to plan a substantial redesign, a proposal that received overwhelming support from various La Jolla planning groups last fall.

The project would have demolished the existing structure, replacing it with a new, two-story, mixed-use building with commercial and retail space and parking on the ground floor, 15 apartments on the second floor and underground parking and storage area.

Earlier this year, Chase offered to buy the building back from the investors, and the deal closed in June, disappointing McGrory and others who wanted that prominent corner of Girard and Silverado Street revamped.

LCPA trustees voted Aug. 1 to author a letter to Chase encouraging the bank to complete the concept already approved project for this corner parcel, leaving room for the new owners to adjust the designs as they choose.

LJCPA was one of the groups to approve the original redesign months ago.

“People were very excited about [it],” said LJCPA President Harry Bubbins.

There is now “a concern for the ongoing empty storefront” adjacent to the bank’s space in the building “and that there could be a significant pause in development,” he said. “We don’t want this property to fall through the cracks and lay dormant.”

Chase representatives have not yet publicized any plans for the building.

“I think this is an opportunity for us to have input with Chase Bank,” said Glen Rasmussen, one of two LJCPA vice presidents.

Positing that perhaps “the design of the new building wasn’t suitable for Chase Bank to use it as a bank,” LJCPA trustee Ray Weiss said the community would nonetheless be improved by the renovation.

Others, however, wondered about setting a precedent, concerned “it’s just going to be the policy of the CPA to resurrect anything approved,” trustee Joe Terry said.

Denying this action would set a precedent or lead to a formal policy, Bubbins said “it’s a very prominent corner. There was a lot of momentum from local people moving forward with a very well received project.”

“I don’t think it sets a precedent,” Kathleen Neil said. “It can’t hurt to try as long as the wording is such … that it’s not promising any development incentive.”

“This would have been a great project for the village,” said trustee Brian Will.