DATE Downtown Aurora Master Plan Existing Conditions Overview DRAFT - APRIL 2016 Acknowledgements Thank you to the following residents, business owners, City staff, and elected officials who participated in the creation of this Plan: Project Steering Committee Kirk Albinson, The Community Builders Jimi Allen, Gravity Building Lulu Blacksmith, Waubonsee Community College 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 Brian Hacker, Metra Dave Hulseberg, Invest Aurora Sherman Jenkins, Economic Development Consultant 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 Executive Summary 4 Section 1: Introduction & Context 6 Section 2: Background 10 Section 3: Community Outreach 15 Section 4: Transportation and Circulation 30 Section 5: Built Environment 52 Section 6: Economy and jobs 66 Section 7: Health and safety 74 Section 8: Natural Environment 82 Section 9: Education, Arts, and Community Services 94 Section 10: Looking Forward 104 Appendices 108 3 Executive Summary This report contains an in-depth look at the following Sustainability topics: background and history of downtown Aurora, The Fox River is the heart of the downtown study area, and the City has transportation and circulation, built environment, proven its interest in improving the river’s visibility and quality with a economy and jobs, health and safety, natural number of green infrastructure projects and open space development. The river provides recreational opportunities, wildlife habitat, and drinking environment, arts and community services. There is water through the City’s nationally recognized water treatment and supply also an overview of community outreach conducted to system. Unfortunately, as wildlife habitat and a recreational asset, it date and the direction of potential recommendations to suffers from impaired water quality, attributed to man-made dams, urban runoff, combined sewer overflows, and point source discharges. Increasing be pursued in the development of the master plan. the recreational use of the river and enhancing overall enjoyment for residents and visitors is a high priority for many, as evidenced by the Walkability recently completed River Edge Park development. A review of the various transportation options available in downtown Livability Aurora highlights many recent improvements including new pedestrian Downtown has an older and smaller housing stock with many studio and and bicycling infrastructure, as well as two-way street conversions. one-bedroom apartments. Although building codes have been modified Existing opportunities to creating a more walkable downtown area and recently to help facilitate redevelopment, there is a perception that some improving safety for all modes include addressing jurisdictional hurdles, codes and requirements, such as having retail on the first floor, may still push-button wait signals, and infrastructure built around the personal be obstacles. The City has many buildings of architectural significance, and automobile. Gateways into downtown lack distinction and due to traffic passionate groups dedicated to protecting them. High-level arts, such as speed and narrow sidewalks, some thoroughfares do not feel safe to walk the Broadway Series at the Paramount Theatre, have been a great success along. in Aurora, attracting thousands of visitors to the area on a regular basis. 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 than some expected downtown 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 the perception of crime and danger 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 Executive Summary 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. Section 1: Introduction and Context 7 FFigureig 1.1 City o 1.1f Au rDowntownora and Downtown AuroraStudy Area StudySUNSET AAreaVE ZENGELE AVE T O S R T LAWNDALE AVE R S C E H W V A I E R I R V D E N N A V V A E N Why Does Aurora Need a New Downtown L O C N I E L Plan? W ILLINOIS AVE V A N A R EDWARDS ST O In 2006, the City of Aurora approved the Seize the Future R Illinois U A E T McCullough Park V Avenue E M A S RURAL ST Downtown Master Plan, which provided a 10-year plan V Island Park D E A c N C C A A O L u W T and long term vision for the downtown, focusing on M E A l S O l V M I P o A T A u O H E A g I neighborhoods and economic development. Since the O V T h N E l A R S i A V P D N V R a A L a N r E K development of the plan, Seize the Future has become Y A r D T A T k S L R I S O r N G W e N Y r R a nonprofit public-private partnership responsible for A E v EISIN i G E P AV M T R S e N city-wide economic development, and is now called E x K Stevens Playground o v A WILLIAMS ST F View Street Park L i Invest Aurora. Developers are interested in seeing a N R Y A new plan in place and City leaders desire to incorporate W D x A T F O S W PA ox Ri R RK AVE ver Tr recommendations for the northern part of downtown and ail Co B K nnector o N FRO W N h T ST A F c RiverEdge close to the Aurora Transportation Center. The new plan H n K VI a Park C N r CEDAR S E A T North River B T S L T Wilder S a will complement and enhance the existing Downtown B Street Park GR T r OV T Park E ST S T o U S r T N u Master Plan by addressing walkability, sustainability T S R S U E A V E C I - H R O «¬31 L S C h UP N E RIO and livability. With a robust public engagement process, t R ST N N a P e the new plan provides opportunities for the City to i r S i P a L RU r I2 IBERTY C P E ST T E comprehensively address issues related to its role within E Aurora V S S s V T i A W A G N ALE Metra NA B o N LVD Y O W n L T S i Station E N t l O the regional and local marketplace, land use priorities, S L s l R T E I C W e L E T S Y N A I F S O T W 25 V R «¬ L F U K - U S N E and improvement of pedestrian and vehicular access and C l T J N T i S O a T r L S T W E S r circulation needs. Figure 1.1 shows the study area chosen E I H e v CL V C i AIM R ST S S x for this planning project.