Metro briefs: Minneapolis council approves W. Broadway plan

Regular litter and graffiti cleanup, new banners and holiday decorations are among the improvements in store for West Broadway, under a plan approved by Minneapolis officials this week.

A council committee approved the plan from the newly created West Broadway Improvement District, which will collect funds from a special assessment paid by property owners in the area. It's expected to generate nearly $104,000 next year. The West Broadway Business and Area Coalition will add another $31,644 for the effort.

Business owners will get a chance to review the assessment before it becomes final.

"We've had very very little dissension on this at all," said Jackie Cherryhomes, president of the WBC's board of directors. "Everybody has been really receptive, thinking it's a really good idea."

Council Member Blong Yang said boosting the area's status as a hub for business is crucial to the overall development of north Minneapolis.

While Yang noted the money collected with the assessment is "not going to make that huge of a dent," he said it's an important step in the process.

Erin Golden

The popular repair clinics are celebrating two successful years in September. During that time, the program has helped 1,419 people fix 1,529 items, according to the county.

Volunteers have donated 2,400 hours to the clinics and have managed to fix three out of four items brought to them. The volunteers help participants repair, troubleshoot, disassemble and fix their items.

The next clinic is from noon to 4 p.m. at the Hennepin County North Regional library, 1315 Lowry Av. N. in Minneapolis. Clinics are scheduled through the end of the year. For information or to volunteer, call 612-348-3777 or go to www.hennepin.us/fixitclinic.

ROCHELLE OLSON

The lights will go back on at the former State Farm headquarters along Interstate 94 in Woodbury.

State Farm closed the property in 2008 after moving operations to Nebraska. The darkened building and surrounding land stood as a symbol of economic development struggles through the recession.

Plans for CityPlace include a 116-room Residence Inn hotel, restaurants and a grocery store and retail shops surrounding the cavernous headquarters building. Space in that structure will be marketed for rent for a single tenant — or many of them.

CityPlace eventually could provide 2,000 jobs, said Matt Alexander, director of real estate for Klaus-Anderson.

Construction will begin immediately, the partners said, with the first retail stores opening next summer.

Kevin Giles

For years, residents near the park, which dates to 1854, have pushed relocating cellphone equipment, saying it's a safety hazard and eyesore. Crews also often work at the site, they say, upgrading antennas and equipment near or on top of a water tower.

But the City Council says relocating it could be costly and could disrupt cell service for thousands of area residents. Four companies have equipment there. Leasing space to them has brought Wayzata nearly $300,000 a year that goes to repairing the city's streets or its water system. If cell equipment were relocated, the companies could drop out, cutting off that money. The city also says a disruption of service could open the city to a lawsuit from companies.