A well-known mural overlooking Chestnut Street in West Chester may be removed after a new owner took over what used to be the Friends Association’s headquarters, writes Brooke Shultz for The Philadelphia Inquirer.

Commissioned by the Friends Association, West Chester University student Noah Burns painted the colorful mural in 2022, and it quickly became recognizable and loved by residents, students, and visitors alike. Alongside the Public Arts Commission, Burns and fellow artists spent a hot summer creating the masterpiece.

The new building owner is reportedly exploring the possibility of removal. It’s on private property and there are no ordinances to protect the artwork, therefore little that can be done for its preservation.

Currently, there are no plans for its immediate removal.

Joyce Chester, CEO of Friends Association, reached out to the mayor and the borough council about keeping it, but their hands may be tied.

“I really feel heartbroken about it,” said Chester. “The day they paint over it, I may be brought to tears, quite frankly.”

Meanwhile, Burns heard about the potential destruction through social media and friends and family. His reactions are “between denial and acceptance” as time will only tell.

“It’s less about the mural itself, more about what it means to the space. The mural can get taken down, as long as they put something up that carries that value in the space — I could agree with that,” he said. “But just to paint over it, to give it the landlord treatment, I think that’d be something of a loss.”

Read more about the West Chester mural and what could happen to it at The Philadelphia Inquirer.

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A mural dedication from 2022.

Editor’s Note: This post was originally published on VISTA.Today in April 2026.