Downtown Aurora Master Plan Existing Conditions Overview

DATE Downtown Aurora Master Plan Existing Conditions Overview EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Acknowledgements Thank you to the following residents, business owners, City staff, and elected officials who participated in the creation of this report: Project Steering Committee Kirk Albinson, The Community Builders Jimi Allen, Gravity Building Lulu Blacksmith, Waubonsee Community College Allison Buchwach, Metra Karen Christensen, Fox Valley Music Foundation & A-Town Poetics Rena Church, Aurora Public Art Eric Gallt, City of Aurora Kim Granholm, Aurora Downtown Joe Grisson, African American Heritage Advisory Board Michael Groh, Pace Bus Dave Hulseberg, Invest Aurora Sherman Jenkins, SLJ Development & Consultant, Inc. Alex Minnella, City of Aurora Gina Moga, City of Aurora Cynthia Penne, Fox Valley Park District Cadence Peterson, Invest Aurora Stephane Phifer, City of Aurora Heather Tabbert, RTA Bill Wiet, City of Aurora Unless otherwise specified, all photos are by CMAP staff. Table of Contents Overview summary 4 Section 1: Introduction & Context 6 Section 2: Background 8 Section 3: Community Outreach 12 Section 4: Transportation and Circulation 14 Section 5: Built Environment 16 Section 6: Economy and jobs 18 Section 7: Health and safety 20 Section 8: Natural Environment 22 Section 9: Education, Arts, and Community Services 24 Section 10: Looking Forward 26 3 Overview summary The full existing conditions report contains an in-depth Sustainability look at the following topics: background and history The Fox River is the heart of the downtown study area, and the City has of downtown Aurora, transportation and circulation, proven its interest in improving the river’s visibility and quality with a built environment, economy and jobs, health and number of green infrastructure projects and open space development. The river provides recreational opportunities, wildlife habitat, and some of safety, natural environment, arts and community the drinking water for Aurora residents and other users. While Aurora’s services. There is also an overview of community drinking water is of good quality, the river itself suffers from impaired outreach conducted and the direction of potential water quality, attributed to man-made dams, urban runoff, combined sewer overflows, and point source discharges, which can increase the cost recommendations to be pursued in the development of of purifying the water before it is distributed to residents. Increasing the the master plan. This document contains excerpts from recreational use of the river and enhancing overall enjoyment for residents that report. and visitors is a high priority for many, as evidenced by the recently completed River Edge Park development. Walkability Livability A review of the various transportation options available in downtown Downtown has an older and smaller housing stock with many studio and Aurora highlights many recent improvements including new pedestrian one-bedroom apartments. Although building codes have been modified and bicycling infrastructure, as well as two-way street conversions. recently to help facilitate redevelopment, there is a perception that some Existing opportunities to creating a more walkable downtown area and codes and requirements, such as having retail on the first floor, may still improving safety for all modes include addressing jurisdictional hurdles, be obstacles. The City has many buildings of architectural significance, and push-button wait signals, and infrastructure built around the personal passionate groups dedicated to protecting them. High-level arts, such as automobile. Gateways into downtown lack distinction and due to traffic the Broadway Series at the Paramount Theatre, have been a great success speed and narrow sidewalks, some thoroughfares are not comfortable to in Aurora, attracting thousands of visitors to the area on a regular basis. walk along. Numerous museums and institutions offer culture, classes, and valuable programs that are often underutilized by the community. 4 Downtown Aurora Master Plan Existing Conditions Report Trends A growing arts and culture scene has brought new interest and appreciation for the downtown area in recent years, which should complement the many public and civic organizations that exist and enhance economic development opportunities and attractiveness. However, economic development progress has been slower for downtown than some expected due to a number of factors, including weak private sector job growth, limited new housing development, a lagging recovery from the recession for Aurora and other markets, and significant competition in the retail market. High office vacancy rates may indicate that industry sectors such as finance and insurance, information, and other service-related sectors desire types of space not currently available in the downtown. ADD PHOTO Despite a significant increase in safety and a decrease in crime in Aurora, based on public input it is apparent that people’s perception of downtown may still impact public willingness to visit, walk, and bike downtown. A multi-pronged approach to inviting people to enjoy the many cultural and recreational opportunities, while promoting growth in targeted industries, will help the downtown to build the future that so many see as its strong potential. 5 Section 1 INTRODUCTION & CONTEXT In partnership with the Chicago Purpose of the Existing Conditions The Downtown Metropolitan Agency for Planning, Report Master Plan the City of Aurora is developing a This Existing Conditions Report—representing the downtown master plan amendment to result of approximately four months of research, will serve as a the 2006 Seize the Future Downtown analysis, and public outreach activities—provides an overview of the current conditions in Aurora and is guide for elected Master Plan. The updated plan will designed to provide a starting point for creating a officials, property define the vision of the Downtown’s shared vision of the future. owners, City future and the steps needed to achieve What is a Downtown Plan? that vision. Having an accurate staff, community The Downtown Master Plan will serve as a guide understanding of the existing conditions for elected officials, property owners, City staff, residents, in the City is a necessary step to community residents, business owners, and potential business owners, developing an appropriate and effective investors. The Plan will assist in making informed administrative and implementation decisions about and potential downtown plan that addresses the future efforts that affect land use, transportation, issues and concerns of the community. infrastructure, urban design and identity, historical investors. and architectural preservation, and capital improvements within Downtown. 7 ChapterSection 2 1 CHAPTERBACKGROUND TITLE HERE Historical context This section gives an overview of downtown Aurora’s history, context in a regional setting, the relationship with this process and the GO TO 2040 Regional Comprehensive Plan, and past plans completed for the downtown area. History of Aurora and the Downtown Before the first European settlers arrived in the area In the nineteenth century, Aurora emerged as the 1. City of Aurora, “Historic Districts and Landmarks Guidelines,” 2006, p. 33. now known as Aurora, Potawatomie Indians inhabited industrial powerhouse of the Fox River Valley, initially 2. Encyclopedia of Chicago, “Aurora IL,” Accessed the land along the Fox River near Stolp Island. In producing textiles and later as a railroad manufacturing July 21, 2015: http://www.encyclopedia. chicagohistory.org/pages/91.html. 1834, two brothers from New York, Joseph and Samuel hub. Factories and mills developed on both sides of 3. City-Data.com, “Aurora: History,” Accessed July McCarty arrived in the Fox Valley searching for a new the river in order to utilize the Stolp Island waterfall. 24, 2015: http://www.city-data.com/us-cities/ The-Midwest/Aurora-History.html. home. They decided to build a mill at a bend in the In 1855, the Chicago, Burlington, and Quincy Railroad 4. City of Aurora, “Welcome to Aurora,” Accessed Fox River and close to a waterfall on Stolp Island. The Company built its offices and construction shops in July 22, 2015: https://www.aurora-il.org/about/ rest of the McCarty family arrived and established downtown Aurora. The railroad company remained the history.php. a permanent settlement on the east bank of the Fox City’s largest employer until the 1960s.These events River called the Village of McCarty Mills. Quickly, the encouraged construction of a roundhouse on the east village grew as people settled close to the river and side of the river, the largest in the country.3 Workers mill. In 1837, the Village of McCarty Mills was renamed moved to the City for factory jobs, increasing housing Aurora.1 On the west bank of the Fox River, new settlers demand prior to the Civil War. Housing development established the town of West Aurora and in 1857 the started moving west away from the central business two towns joined to form the City of Aurora, agreeing district. Commercial buildings and businesses opened in to locate public institutions on Stolp Island, so as not to downtown looking to capitalize on the City’s economic favor one side over the other.2 growth. In 1881, Aurora leveraged its industrial strength to publicly light the entire City with electricity, becoming the first city in the United States to do so 4 and earning the nickname “City of Lights.” 9 HISTORY OF DOWNTOWN AURORA 1908-1940 Sears Roebuck and Company ordered,

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