West metro briefs: Large glass work goes up at new Hennepin County Medical Center building

A four-story glass artwork has been installed in the entrance of the Hennepin County Medical Center's (HCMC) new Clinic and Specialty Center, across from HCMC's emergency department in downtown Minneapolis.

The 15-panel piece, a gift from the Hennepin Health Foundation, was created by British architectural glass artist Martin Donlin. The abstract work includes images of Minneapolis landmarks such as the Stone Arch Bridge, Mississippi River and maps of the lakes and downtown area.

Donlin is known internationally for his work, which can be found across the United States, the United Kingdom, Japan and Germany.

"Patients, families, visitors and staff will enter a space that embraces healing and wellness, with this magnificent sculpture at the heart of it all," said Wenda Lyons Ballinger, HCMC's arts coordinator, in a written statement.

Local poet Laurie Allmann collaborated with Donlin on the project. Allmann wrote a corresponding poem, "Mirroring the Light," that will be on display next to the piece.

The center, which is set to open in late March, will showcase more than 600 pieces of art including the glass installation, which will be its signature piece.

Kelly Busche

The practice, free and open to the public, will be held at the city's Recreation Outdoor Center, 3700 Monterey Drive. It is scheduled to start at 11 a.m. and last for about 45 minutes.

Parking will be available at three lots: the rec center's parking lot, a lot at 3525 Monterey Drive and another lot at the Excelsior and Grand complex, 3820 Grand Way. City officials said fans should get there early for the best seating.

Miguel Otárola

The Minnesota Historical Society announced this month that it was giving more than $3.6 million in large and small grants to a total of 82 cities, historical societies and projects across the state.

The Historical and Cultural Heritage Grants are called Legacy grants and funded by the Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment approved by Minnesota voters in 2008.

• Friends of Christ Church Lutheran, Minneapolis, $82,612 to replace the church's roof;

• City of Eden Prairie, $8,000 to design and install sigs for the Riley-Jacques Farmstead;

• Golden Valley Historical Society, Golden Valley, $20,950 to hire a professional to process the archives;

• Hennepin History Museum, Minneapolis, $75,000 for a consultant to help preserve the Christian Family Residence, home of the museum;

• Minneapolis College of Art and Design, Minneapolis, $7,750 to transcribe an oral history about Knut Koupee store;

• Minnesota's Black Community Project, Minneapolis, $25,000 for research on 21st-century blacks Americans in Minnesota;

• Municipal Building Commission, Minneapolis, $38,000, to better organize the archives;

• University of Minnesota, American Indian Studies program, Minneapolis, $48,675 to produce materials on the Ojibwe language;

• University of Minnesota, Bell Museum of Natural History, Minneapolis, $89,760 to compile information on Jacques art.

• University of Minnesota, Institute on Community Integration, Minneapolis, $9,953 for a historian to research special education teachers in Minnesota.

The Eden Prairie City Council is reviewing a proposal for a 116-unit senior living building.

The five-floor development, at the corner of Prairie Center Drive and Franlo Road, will house 116 rental units, including 44 independent living units, 40 assisted-living units and 32 memory-care units. Twelve units will carry affordable rents.

The council will hold a second reading of the proposal during an upcoming meeting. Several people voiced support for the project at a council meeting on Jan. 16 but noted concerns over removing the last naturally forested area in the city.

City Council Member Sherry Butcher Wickstrom said the building is a "perfect proposal."

"We know that there's not enough senior housing … so this is very important to us," she said.

Kelly Busche

A work session planned for March 5 will tackle the much-debated topic of organized trash collection in New Hope.

City Council members will meet with the suburb's six licensed garbage haulers as they continue to weigh whether to move away from an open collection system, which allows residents to choose their own hauler from among those licensed by the city, and toward an organized system.

The meeting will be held at 7 p.m. March 5 at City Hall, 4401 Xylon Av. N. There will not be a time for public comment, city officials said.

The work session follows months of feedback received through a resident survey and a listening session in August. About 49 percent of residents surveyed either opposed or strongly opposed an organized collection system, while 43 percent favored or strongly favored the move. About 8 percent were undecided.