Years of planning and millions of dollars in grants still haven't produced a start date for La Jolla's Girard Avenue makeover. Leaders of the project now say construction will likely begin sometime in early 2027, though no exact date has been set. Federal and state grant compliance requirements remain outstanding.
The San Diego Union-Tribune reported that the exact construction date remains uncertain. Federal and state grant compliance requirements remain outstanding, and the foundation invites community members to sign up for project updates.
The Village Streetscape Project is designed to revitalize Girard Avenue, bringing new lighting, seating, trees, traffic-calming measures and stormwater infrastructure to the heart of the Village. The plan is split into two phases: Phase 1 will renovate the stretch between Prospect and Wall streets, while Phase 2 covers Wall Street to Silverado, according to a newsletter from the La Jolla Community Foundation. Phase 1 is fully funded, while Phase 2 remains in active fundraising.
Grant Rules Keep Pushing the Timeline
The Foundation was preparing a revised contractor bidding package to reflect the full scope required by the federal grant, according to its newsletter.
A permit was issued in August 2026. The foundation and its project team have also finalized construction drawings for both phases and completed permitting work.
Estimated Project Cost Is $7.4 Million
The project has drawn an $850,000 appropriation from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and $1 million from the state of California, with the foundation raising roughly $3 million more from local donors, according to the La Jolla Community Foundation. Official materials list an estimated total of $7.43 million. Stormwater infrastructure is part of the project.
Once complete, the project would add 63 new benches, 49 trees, 51 lights and 9,100 square feet of public space along Girard Avenue, the foundation's newsletter states. The project was first introduced in 2021, and more than $5 million has been raised through community support and grants.
Merchants Weigh Beauty Against Parking Headaches
Not everyone in the Village is purely enthusiastic about the looming construction. Jodi Rudick, executive director of the La Jolla Village Merchants Association, said merchants are concerned about major construction disrupting business and eating into parking, even as she expects the finished product to be beautiful. That tension between short-term disruption and long-term payoff has shadowed the project for years as funding slowly came together.
Enhance La Jolla Focuses on Sidewalk Cleaning
Separately, Enhance La Jolla, the nonprofit that manages the Village's maintenance assessment district, cleans Village sidewalks with pressure washing.
Enhance La Jolla's work includes enhancing city services and funding projects such as signage.
Enhance La Jolla meets quarterly or as needed at the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego, with its next meeting scheduled for 4 p.m. on Jan. 21, 2027. The group said it will post the meeting agenda 72 hours in advance.
