Coral Gables could soon own an 18-ton work by one of the best-known sculptors of the last century. On Tuesday, the City Commission takes up a resolution that would let the city manager negotiate and sign a deal to buy Fin, by the late American artist Richard Serra, from the seller, Tresart Inc.

The cap is $5 million. The money would come from the city's Art in Public Places fund, including interest the fund earned this past budget year and a public art payment tied to the City Hall renovation, according to the city's agenda memo.

What the city would get

Fin is a tall, curved wall of hot-rolled steel. It stands about 14 feet high and 18 feet wide, but it is only 3 inches thick. It bends gently and tilts slightly backward. The city's presentation lists it as a one-of-a-kind piece made for an indoor space. The Coral Gables Gazette reports it was commissioned for a Manhattan office building.

Serra, who died in 2024, was known for huge steel arcs, spirals and walls. His work is in the collections of MoMA, the Met, the Whitney and the Guggenheim, the presentation notes. A conservator told the city the piece can live outdoors with proper treatment.

Why the arts board said no

The Cultural Development Board voted 4-2 to recommend denial "at this time." Its draft minutes list three reasons. The board called the deadline to agree to the purchase "artificial and unduly short." Installation costs, the state of the fund and the final location are still unknown. And the price "would completely deplete all monies currently available in the fund."

Two weeks earlier, the Arts Advisory Panel voted 5-1 to put the item off. Its draft minutes show members asked for costs for the foundation, landscaping, weather protection, upkeep and storage, plus renderings of possible sites.

The full bill is still open

A city cost sheet already tops $5.2 million. Site work, the foundation, moving the piece from storage, installation, lighting and signs are all marked "tbd." The memo says the foundation, installation, lighting, signs and landscaping would be paid for separately. Yearly upkeep would be set by a conservation team once the piece is in place.

The city's top pick for a site is a new downtown park at Salzedo Street and Almeria Avenue, being built in partnership with the Regency Parc development. Other spots on the city's list include Centennial Park, Country Club Prado and Ponce Circle Park, which has its own redesign plan.

How to weigh in

Commissioners voted Sept. 15 to back the city's pursuit of a Serra work. The Gazette reports that Tuesday is the commission's last regular meeting before the Nov. 3 city election.

The meeting starts at 9 a.m. at the Police and Fire Headquarters, 2151 Salzedo St., in the Community Meeting Room. You can also join on Zoom or by phone at 305-461-6769, meeting ID 3054466800. To send a written comment, email cityclerk@coralgables.com before the meeting starts.

The same agenda includes a $1.24 million contract with Hycon Investments to build out the Coral Gables Art Cinema's expansion at 240 Aragon Ave., a 90-seat cinema space, plus a related lease change. Heading downtown this weekend? Our Halloween guide covers Trick-or-Treat on the Mile.