West metro briefs: Luxury car 'condo' project proposed for 20-acre site in Medina

High-end car collectors in the west metro area will have a new place to stash and show off their prized possessions if a new motor sport "condo" project gets approval from Medina city leaders.

Chanhassen-based AutoMotorPlex has proposed a 215,000-square-foot, nine-building complex in Medina on 20 acres of farmland east of Arrowhead Drive and north of Hamel Road. The city recently reviewed a concept plan for the garage "condominiums," but no application has been received yet.

The developer is asking for approval to rezone the land for a planned unit development for the deluxe garage, likened to a country club for fancy cars and their owners. It might also host an occasional car show.

"I think we're going to bring a feature as we brought to Chanhassen — we brought a lot of fun and community involvement, we brought a tax base and we brought people in that spend money," Bruno Silikowski, a Plymouth resident and company founder, told the City Council last month.

In response to city leaders' questions about possible noise or light pollution from the development in the partly rural community, Silikowski said the facility would provide "quiet enjoyment" indoors, with many members being Twin Cities CEOs.

Medina would be the company's second location in Minnesota, after a 40-acre complex in Chanhassen, and one of very few nationwide.

"This is an innovative concept, this is a new kind of thing," Silikowski told city leaders.

Mindy Ahler of Edina will embark Saturday, Aug. 27 on a cross-country bicycle trip of more than 4,000 miles to raise awareness of climate issues.

Ahler's "Low Carbon Crossing" will begin in Seaside, Ore., and end in Washington, D.C., in mid-November. Along the way, she'll take part in community conversations on climate solutions.

She also plans to meet with lawmakers in Washington at the end of the journey. Joining her on the trip will be Ryan Hall of Decorah, Iowa.

Those interested in supporting the ride can visit the donation page at http://bit.ly/2bcF8QH/.

JOHN REINAN

Verbrugge was the only Minnesotan on the list, which included figures such as Dallas Police Chief David Brown and U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine of Virginia, a former mayor of Richmond, Va., who is now the Democratic nominee for vice president.

Verbrugge, a Richfield resident, was city manager in Brooklyn Park before taking the Bloomington job in 2015. The Bloomington City Council recently extended his contract for two more years.

JOHN REINAN

Two students from Providence Academy in Plymouth are holding a 24-hour computer coding event from noon Aug. 20 to noon Aug. 21 for high school students, otherwise known as a "hackathon."

The event, called Hack the Heat, is being held at the Commons Workplace in Excelsior. Organizers Luke Igel and William Walcher said it will enable students at all skill levels to meet, enhance their skills and work together to build an app, game or gadget. Workshops are being offered for both new and experienced students.

KEVIN DUCHSCHERE

The Minnehaha Creek Watershed District is accepting proposals this month and next for grants of up to $15,000 for ideas on how to keep water clean and protect natural resources.

The Cynthia Krieg Watershed Stewardship Fund assists local community organizations, schools, businesses and nonprofit groups to help others understand the importance of keeping lakes, streams and wetlands healthy.

To qualify for funding, activities must be within watershed district boundaries and promote community involvement in natural resource protection.

Pre-proposals are due by Sept. 14; applications are available at minnehahacreek.org/cynthia-krieg/.