"Red Riding Hood" Gets Planning and Zoning Nod

City planners were impressed by both finalists in Creve Coeur's quest for public art to double as a Metro bus shelter along Olive Boulevard, but with a unanimous vote Monday night (one member absent), the Planning and Zoning Commission opted to move forward with a design team with installation credits around the world.

The panel selected Marc Fornes & Volkan Alkanoglu, .

The Fornes/Alkanoglu design uses the shape of an aerial photo of Creve Coeur Lake as inspiration for a stainless steel canopy.

In meeting documents, the city's Public Art Task Force endorsed the same plan and Task Force members spoke Monday in support of the project's sense of innovation.

"We really think it could actually, possibly put Creve Coeur on the map with art afficianados across the world because of its uniqueness," Jessica Witte told Planning and Zoning members. In a dream scenario, Witte envisions people pulling over to see what it is that will actually sit in front of the and

In the prepared documents, Art Task Force Chair Dan Tierney said panel members felt the Fennell concept was familiar, but elementary in design, and suggested that a similar design put to use in Athens, Georgia made it less unique than the "Red Riding Hood" proposal.

Reached by email Monday night, Volkan Alkanoglu said he wanted to wait for official word from the city, but said "we are looking forward to this exciting project," he wrote.

Also reached by email, Fennell told Creve Coeur Patch he thought the competition had an amazing design, and that he couldn't wait to see it.

Monday's decision only means the city will now enter contract negotiations with the Fornes/Alkanoglu team. Among the issues left to be resolved are how the art will actually function as a true bus shelter, including how to protect would-be passengers from the elements. Also left undetermined is the actual color of the art.

Both finalists came in with projects estimated at a $27,000 budget.