URA see red over graffiti art on Haji Lane shophouse

Graffiti on the wall of a shophouse in Haji Lane may wow visitors - but building conservationists are not impressed. The Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) has raised a red flag over the paintwork as not meeting the stipulated guidelines for conserved shophouses.

The artwork was commissioned by the owner of the neighbouring Blu Jaz Cafe, Ms Aileen Tan, her business associate said. Efforts to contact Ms Tan were unsuccessful.

The new colour guidelines were released on the URA's website in January. It also discourages the use of neon paints and murals on shophouses.

A URA spokesman said that since the guidelines were released, four owners had been told to remove paint covering the original facade tiles of their shophouses. She declined to say which shophouses these were, but said that all had complied. URA can impose a fine of up to $200,000, a jail term of up to a year, or both, if the guidelines are breached.