Prada Marfa might be doomed. No, there's no fancy store in Marfa. Instead, it's a roadside advertisement -- and Texas officials say it's illegal.
State transportation officials are pondering what to do about the iconic structure in West Texas, The Associated Press is reporting. Blame it on the Playboy bunny.
The shack-sized Prada Marfa was installed in 2005 along a rural U.S highway. It resembles a storefront of the high-end Italian fashion brand.
The Prada Marfa building came under scrutiny this summer after Playboy installed a 40-foot sign with a neon-lit bunny nearby.
The state ordered Playboy to remove its sign within the next month. It has not yet determined whether to take similar action against the Prada Marfa.
Texas Department of Transportation spokeswoman Veronica Beyer says both are considered advertisements and therefore can't be placed by a U.S. highway.
But supporters of the Prada Marfa say it's a work of art. The building has also attracted tourists to the area and been the subject of scores of pictures.
Earlier this month, Texas Monthly's Francesca Mari wrote a story about the Prada and Playboy issues that ran in The New York Times.
Marfa Public Radio has been covering the Prada Marfa and Playboy matters. Here's an update from August.
