Confidential Customized for Vision Culture Foundation David Castillo National City Mural Project Proposal
Overview
WE are proud to celebrate National City’s rich history and our connection to it.
Centrally located in the heart of South Bay, Our City is ideally situated between bustling downtown San Diego, beautiful beaches, and the US/Mexico border.
WE honor our diverse and vibrant community, the elders, the youth, our friends and neighbors, the businesses, the essential workers, our family.
Join us as
WE transport ourselves through National City's beautiful landscape and rich history and, as we engage community and collaborate towards public safety.
Resident Artist
David Castillo
Vision Culture Foundation is a grassroots
501(c)(3) based in National City, focused
on supporting local artists and building
community through creative expression.
By commissioning artists from National
City, Barrio Logan, Southeast, and South
Bay San Diego, we keep work rooted in
the neighborhood it reflects.
Through collaboration with local artists,
we uplift their voices and reinvest in our
local economy and culture.
David Castillo is a multidisciplinary artist
and founder of Rott Design Studio, a
South San Diego–based creative practice
focused on community engagement
through public art, design, and cultural
storytelling. Since 2010, he has
collaborated with schools, nonprofits,
and local organizations to create murals,
apparel, and visual campaigns that uplift
identity, resilience, and connection.
Project objective
To design and complete a large-scale,
community-informed mural that celebrates the
people of National City, deters graffiti, reduces
abatement costs, and enhances civic pride;
beginning with the Public Works Building as a
model for future city-wide art initiatives.
The mural is designed for the residents,
workers, students, and families of National
City — especially those who live, work, or
pass through the Public Works corridor.
It honors essential workers, city employees,
and diverse cultural contributors while
speaking to future generations.
Target Audience
Understanding
the impact
Cincinnati - 30% more pedestrian visits on weekends with mural activations.
Miami - 47% increase in foot traffic at Miami’s Design District after art installations.
London - 84% of participants reported enhanced well-being connected with public-art projects.
Philadelphia - Phillies Mural Arts Program generates $79 million annually, putting murals at the heart of civic identity.
Illegal graffiti - falls 25–50% after mural installs.
Retailers - willing to pay 5–30% more for buildings with murals. Mural Club in progress.
Impact Trends Urban Case Studies
Public art is more than decoration.
These studies support the fact that murals are linked to calming environments that reduce anxiety, boost mood and creativity.
This is similar to the impact that green-spaces have in urban areas.
Thoughtfully designed public art is a multifaceted tool for urban transformation: preventing vandalism, raising real estate value, invigorating local economies, and elevating individual and communal well-being. QUICK TIP
Mural Vandalised
Mural Restoration process
Impact Trends Art Transforms
Problems to solve
1 Graffiti Reduction: The mural directly
addresses vandalism by replacing
high-target walls with community-backed
artwork, historically shown to deter
tagging.
2 Beautification of Public Spaces:
Transforming neglected or industrial areas
into vibrant landmarks improves the visual
landscape of National City.
3 Graffiti Abatement Costs: The project aims
to reduce recurring expenses for cleaning,
repainting, and staff hours currently spent
removing graffiti.
4 Boosting Community Spirit: Public art
fosters civic pride and representation,
uniting diverse groups under shared
narratives of identity, work, and culture.
The map below shows vandalism per 1,000 San Diego County residents. Crime Grades A C F Link to research; crimegrade.org Vandalism in National City Hourly Rates:
● Graffiti Removal Technician: $84.54/hour
● Graffiti Removal Assistant: $73.34/hour
Total Hours: 4 hours each for Technician and Assistant
MTS Flaggers: $225/time
Paint and Materials: $500/time
Frequency: Twice a month
Calculating Annual Costs:
Graffiti Removal Tech 4 hours $85 $338
Graffiti Removal Assistant 4 hours $73 $293
MTS Flaggers 1 time $225 $225
Materials: Paint 1 time $500 $500
Total Per Incident: $1,357
Minimum 2 Incidents/Month $2,713
Grand Total over 12 Months $32,556
Calculating Annual Graffiti Abatement Costs
The mural project at the Public Works building offers a cost-effective, long-term solution to persistent graffiti. With a one-time investment of $12,000, the City can save over $20,000 annually in abatement costs, based on current cleanup expenses. This community-driven artwork not only reduces vandalism but also beautifies the area and strengthens civic pride.
Approved Budget: Public Works Mural
12K
Public Works Mural 2,700 sq ft
Budget includes; artist labor and
materials, excludes; optional
maintenance plan
Graffiti Abatement Costs Annually
34.5K
Based on verified city data of
24 removals per year for a
single high-target wall, 2
incidents per month.
Potential City Savings - 1st Year
20K+
Long-Term ROI: Ongoing
reduction in labor, paint, traffic
control, and graffiti recurrence
over multiple years
Deliverables
Proposed solution
Our mural is a long-term visual investment that
beautifies the area, engages the public, and lowers
city costs over time. With local artists and culturally reflective design, it becomes both deterrent and
celebration — honoring those who serve the city
and those who built it.
Engage Community
Partner with community leaders, artists,
activists, and educators from each region
involved. Conduct interviews and collaborate
with stakeholders. Document the planning
process, converse with residents and small
businesses.
Approval Phase
Work with each artist on their mural section,
providing a crude rendering and guidelines for
representing landmarks and significant
sites/events. Collaborate creatively with
community leaders.
Execution Phase
Involve the media to spread awareness about
the project. Coordinate and administer all
aspects of the mural's completion. Schedule
and coordinate times between artists,
students, and rental equipment. Complete the
mural.
Process
Public Works Building
Approval Date August 5, 2025. Mural completion in
2-3 weeks.
Oct 2025
Storage Building
Approval Date is still tentative. Mural completion
estimated 3-4 weeks.
Jan 2026
Midblock Storage Building
Approval Date is still tentative. Mural completion
estimated 4 weeks.
Feb 2026
22nd Street Area Storage Building
Approval Date is still tentative. Mural completion
estimated 3-4 weeks.
Mar 2026
Near 24 St Station Storage Building
Approval Date is still tentative. Mural completion
estimated 4-5 weeks.
Vision
Funding community-driven art shows that the city values local identity and voices Public art is worth being supported because they deliver visible change faster than most infrastructure projects Celebrating local culture through art strengthens neighborhood pride and belonging By inviting community input in the process, city government builds trust through transparency & collaboration Investing in art and culture aligns city leadership with neighborhood well-being and vibrancy Thank you.