Mural costing nearly $40,000 up for vote by City Commission. Who’s paying for it?
A $38,000 mural is headed to a final vote by the City Commission after the Coral Springs Public Art Committee supported the design and recommended it for approval.
The mural by Chicago-based artist CJ Hungerman would go on the north building of the Cornerstone development on the corner of Sample Road and University Drive, the city said in a news release Oct. 29.
Hungerman’s portfolio includes brightly colored, surreal and abstract murals.
Some residents started sounding off on social media about the price, although the city says the cost came in under the $75,000 budget allocated.
And residents aren’t paying for it with their tax dollars. The artwork is coming out of developers’ pockets as part of the city’s public art fund, rather than the city’s general fund.
“No tax dollars go toward purchasing public art in Coral Springs,” according to the city’s public arts collection page. “All financing comes from a fee charged to developers who have projects larger than 12,500 square feet. Developers may contribute to the Public Art Fund or purchase an artwork to display on their property in accordance with Chapter 6 of the city’s Land Development Code.”
City Commissioners will review the proposal during the Wednesday, Nov. 5, meeting. If they vote yes, the city will work with Hungerman to hammer out the final design and establish a timeline.
“Public art has the power to breathe life into a downtown while creating a greater sense of community pride,” said Joe McHugh, City Commissioner and liaison for the Public Art Committee. “Our city’s mural projects are a meaningful investment in our overall cultural scene, and I look forward to seeing this artist’s vision come to life.”
The proposed design garnered support from the committee, as well as the Coral Springs Museum of Art, for the mural’s “abstracted flowers accented with a black and white pattern.”
The Public Art Committee gave its stamp of approval for final consideration by the City Commission on Sept. 17.
This story was originally published October 31, 2025 at 6:05 AM.