Downtown Aurora Master Plan Existing Conditions Overview

DATE

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

T LAWNDALE AVE R

S C

W V

I E

R V

E N

N A V

V A

E N

Why Does Aurora Need a New Downtown L

O C

I E

Plan? W ILLINOIS AVE V A

R EDWARDS ST

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 O

L u

W T

and long term vision for the downtown, focusing on M

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

O r

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. o GARFI F F ELD AV L LA E P E G T V G Y A T S COL W O P T LEGE D S AVE O H L «¬31 W O H N T T E S 4 R N T E N V PL S A T N E O W V W E S O A A D PR L T E k BE O I R D S L l N W N N T N G T G O E D S a TO E O K D N R S C A I T W AC M R W ST P L L L E r L E E R P E S V e T I C S O K N R v S i A T S R E S S R W A R R S a T P Y O G E T r S McCarty R o W C r R K E S N u T Park T A A E E W G P A S S LE N N A BL T V S D T

T N S L P T T T O S N S Y O N O A C R T O S L S W A S S K R E D K R A E C S W O T D A AJ urora Downtown Study Area R N S B A S S T Buildings S E E k L V T l L A S a A T A N V EP BaErkNiTnOgN Lots S O C ST R T L N T

S A E W O S S K L T T C R C r S H S N N e I T A T Open Space N O N L L T I v 4 S E i C S O N S P S L R E H S S U T V P T

a A K T NO 5 Water r RTH AV S S E R o D C C r E I O A H I u J O T L V A W R E P E O Existing Trails S T B W O N R S A Miles T I R 8 Downtown Aurora Master Plan Existing Conditions Report T G 0 0.125 0.25 CENTER AVE Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning, 2015. Planning Process The planning process to create the City’s Downtown Master Plan includes City staff and CMAP worked together to develop a scope of work for the multiple steps that will last approximately 12-15 months. The process has project. The scope of work sets program tasks, a timeline for the program, been crafted with assistance from City staff and has been designed to and recommends participation by a community steering committee to assist include resident, stakeholder, and business owner input throughout. CMAP staff in developing the final plan and recommendations. The key steps in the planning process are illustrated in Figure 1.2. Per the direction of City staff, the steering committee is comprised of residents, developers, business owners, City staff from various departments, and representatives from transportation agencies, the Aurora Downtown SSA, Invest Aurora, and Waubonsee Community College.

Figure 1.2 Aurora Planning Process A Downtown Master Plan for Aurora

OCT. NOV. DEC. JAN. FEB. MAR. APR. MAY JUNE JUL. AUG. SEPT. OCT. NOV. DEC.

PUBLIC VISIONING 1 WORKSHOP PUBLIC 2 OPEN HOUSE 3 4 5 2015 2016

1. Project orientation 3. Draft downtown plan development 5. Community implementation of plan 2. Existing conditions assessment 4. Plan completion and approval

Section 1: Introduction and Context 9 Section 2 BACKGROUND 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 and earning the nickname “City of Lights.”4

Section 2: Background 11 HISTORY OF DOWNTOWN AURORA and past planning efforts late 1930s The Sky Club atop the Transportation Leland Hotel was a populat dance club and Arts & Culture famous blues recordings were made here. The Blues on the Fox Festival celebrates Sustainability Aurora’s early blues history. Economic Development Long-range planning

1904 Aurora’s Carnegie library opens on Stolp Island. Photo from the City of Aurora.

1856 The Chicago, Burlington, and Quincy Railroad 1928 The first vision of Downtown locates its roundhouse and locomotive shop in Aurora. It Aurora’s potential is developed by was the City’s largerst employer until the 1960s. Jacob L. Crane, Jr. and recommends 1887 A February flood destroys the establishing zoning districts for the original McCarty Mill. City. Image courtesy of Larry T. Nix, Library 1834 Joseph McCarty builds History Buff Blog. 1928 The Leland building, at 22 stories a campfire on Stolp Island and 1857 East and West Aurora high, opens as a first-class hotel and decides to invite his brother and jointly incorporate as the City of entertainment center. It was rumored to be a family to join him in settling the Aurora, agreeing to locate most spot used by Al Capone during Prohibition. It land along the Fox River. public buildings on or around is now an apartement building. Stolp Island, in the middle of the river. A post office is established and 1837 1921 The Chicago, the village is named Aurora, after the 1881 The City becomes one Burlington, and Quincy goddess of the dawn. of the first cities to use electric Rail company begins 1934 The boxcar lighting, and earns the nickname The eight-story Aurora 1917 hiring Mexican workers community in Eola is “City of Lights.” Hotel opens on Stolp Island and after a 1921 law closed because many is the tallest building on the island. restricted immigration workers were deported It was saved from demolition and from Europe. The back to Mexico during renovated in 1996 and now houses 1881 Aurora Public Library is workers lived in the Great Depression. 1854 West Aurora becomes established through City Ordinance. senior citizens. an incorporated village. boxcars in Eola, Photo from the Aurora Regional Fire Museum. an unincorporated community adjacent to 1894 The Aurora Fire Department’s Aurora. 1930 North Broadway Hose House and Police 1940 The Aurora 1850 Patrol building opened. Branch Railroad opened on 1950 September 2, 1850. 1910 1920 1908-1940 Sears (no population data available) Roebuck and Company ordered, manufactured, 1864 The Chicago, 1878 The Grand Army of and sold homes across Burlington, and Quincy the Republic (GAR) Memorial 1900 America, many in Aurora. Railroad constructs a Hall was completed. The 1845 East Aurora late 1910s Cars were first sold Aurora currently has 136 railroad line connecting memorial for Civil War veterans becomes an incorporated and serviced on LaSalle Street in authenticated properties, Aurora to Chicago. fought for veteran’s benefits 1890 village. 1907. Between 1912 and 1921, LaSalle making it one of the locally and nationally. Street saw an increase in auto-related largest concentrations businesses from three to fifteen. of Sears homes in the 1880 country. early 1800s The 1931 The Paramount area now known as 1870 Theatre opens as the first air- downtown Aurora is a 1860 conditioned building outside Native American village. About this timeline. The line across this timeline corresponds to population estimates for downtown Aurora. Census data, available from 1960 to of Chicago. 1850 2010 was used, with earlier years following trends in the City as a whole. Prior to 1960, there is no population data available for the downtown area.

12 Downtown Aurora Master Plan Existing Conditions Report Visit http://bit.ly/AuroraTimeline for a digital version of this document.

DOWNTOWN AURORA EXISTING CONDITIONS REPORT Visit http://bit.ly/AuroraTimeline for a digital version of this document.

1993 The Aurora Downtown 2011 The Redevelopment Corporation (ADRC) Broadway Series debuts begins a strategic planning process 2011 to look at strengths, weaknesses and at Paramount Greyhound Theatre. 1975 Westfield Fox Valley Shopping opportunities for downtown on the discontinues bus Mall opens in eastern Aurora. heels of Hollywood Casino’s opening. service. Photo from the Library of Congress. 1993 The Hollywood Casino opens, 1993 The FoxWalk 2014 bringing a surge in tax revenues for 2011 Waubonsee Community College Overlay District The Meyer downtown redevelopment projects, moves into a larger, new campus on and Design Review Ballroom, with which peaked at $16.2 million in 2002, the West bank of the Fox River, and Committee established. seating for declining in later years with only $8.9 helps the City to develop the riverfront over 300, gets million in 2013, and approximately $7 walkway. a renovation, million in 2014. and returns to the hands of 2006 Seize the Future / Invest 1990 SciTech 1996 The 2008 Aurora Paramount. 1974 The Roundhouse and Aurora is created following approval Hands on Museum Roundhouse re-opens hosts GreenTown shops close. The structure remains of the STF Downtown Master Plan. 1978 Riverfront Playhouse is relocates from with a brewpub, conference. abandoned for 21 years. STF is a nonprofit public private founded. Since its creation, the Naperville to Aurora. restaurant, museum partnership responsible for citywide nonprofit storefront theatre company and pavilion by Walter economic development. has produced over 200 shows in Payton’s investment group. 1970 Burlington downtown Aurora. 1989 Riverwalk Commission created. Northern begins 1996 The restored David L Pierce operating commuter rail Art & History Center opens. 1978 Paramount service on the railroad 1985

Theatre reopens after 2013 Parking Management Policies 1968 Dr. Charles Smith line from Aurora to Amtrak trains a major restoration. 1996 The 1st Blues on the Fox begins creating a sculptural Chicago. stop servicing 14 festival is held. landscape in his yard. The site Aurora. was known as the African- 2009 Sustainability Plan American Heritage Museum and 2000 Members of the Aurora 1979 Aurora City 12 Black Veteran’s Archive. Council of Neighborhoods and 2006 Historic Districts & Landmarks Guide Council establishes 2006 Aurora Riverfront Vision Plan 13 2010 the City initiate a neighborhood 11 the Preservation Population: 49,400 planning approach to develop local 7 10 Commission to neighborhood plans. preserve properties that 8 reflect the City’s rich 9 2015 Santori history. Library opens on River Street. 1974 Preliminary Development Program 1970 2 1963 Plans for Progress Population: 44,000 1 1993: Aurora ‘98 Strategic Plan 6 2000 1980 Population: 41,800 2008 Walker Parking Study 1987 Report on Current Development Opportunities 5

While the City of Aurora’s population Population: 37,400 1984 Strategic Plan for Downtown Aurora 2015 The city’s 4 2009 Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan continued to rise, the downtown census 3 first protected 1960 1990 2007 RiverEdge Park Master Plan 1950 Population: 39,100 tracts saw a decline in population in the Population: 38,700 bike lane opens 1970s. With the closing of the railroad 1993 Quad 2012 Aurora on River Street, The City’s Latino population holds first solar- connecting two 1965 The shops, many other factories and industrial County African 2006 Seize the Future Master Plan powered concert major regional trail Aurora Civic areas relocated or went out of business. begins to grow in the 1980s 1986 The 1st American Chamber in Illinois. segments. Center Authority and continues to grow faster downtown TIF of Commerce 2012 Construction begins on RiverEdge Park, and the Aurora than all other demographic and SSA districts formed. an idea that emerged from the Seize the Future Redevelopment 1966 Aurora Municipal Airport groups combined. are established. Master Plan to reconnect the neighborhoods and Commission opens 8 miles west of downtown as create an outdoor gathering space. (ACCA/ARC) a reliever for O’Hare and Midway 1986 Waubonsee Community 2012 First CMAP were established. airports. 1982 Carson Pirie Scott, the College opens a new downtown Fridays (art, 2015 last major department store in campus in the former Carson Pirie music, dance) is awards $8.6 downtown Aurora, closes. Scott department store. started by the million through Aurora Downtown CMAQ to organization. improve access 1985 Aurora Public Art to Metra train Commission is established. 1983 Pace Bus service starts. 1997 ULI “Getting to the Next Level” Development Review station.

Section 2: Background 13 During the nineteenth century, the “City of Lights” The economic shift from manufacturing to services 5. City-Data.com, “Aurora History,” http://www. city-data.com/us-cities/The-Midwest/Aurora- gained a reputation as a progressive city. Aurora and technology hurt the downtown. In 1974, the History.html welcomed European immigrants who worked in the Roundhouse and associated shops closed. The 6. Encyclopedia of Chicago, “Aurora IL.” Accessed July 21, 2015: http://www.encyclopedia. factories and residents supported abolition before following year, the Westfield Fox Valley Shopping chicagohistory.org/pages/91.html. the Civil War. After the Civil War, African American Mall opened in eastern Aurora. By the 1980s, many 7. Walking tour of Aurora conducted by City staff on July 9, 2015. churches flourished.5 Residents were also forward- of the manufacturing factories had closed, resulting 8. Encyclopedia of Chicago, “Aurora IL,” http:// thinking on issues of education, women, and religion. in Aurora’s unemployment rate rising to sixteen www.encyclopedia.chicagohistory.org/pages/91. A free public school district, the first in Illinois, was percent.10 As the City’s economic fortunes changed, html. 9. Shlaes and Co., “Downtown Aurora, Illinois: A established in Aurora in 1851 and a school for girls the downtown struggled to compete with new Report on Current Development Opportunities,” formed in 1855.6 suburban development to the east. Around this 1987, pp.2-3. time, development in DuPage County had generated 10. Encyclopedia of Chicago, “Aurora IL.” The “City of Lights” became home to a number of significant population growth, which attracted major 11. Shlaes and Co., p.3. entertainment and cultural options as well. The 12. Encyclopedia of Chicago, “Aurora IL.” residential, retail, office and industrial development in and Downtown Aurora, “Aurora Downtown historic Paramount Theater opened on Stolp Island these areas. Aurora’s far east side benefited from this History,” Accessed July 24, 2015: http://www. auroradowntown.org/history/. in 1931, hosting films, plays, and comedy acts. Leland growth. In downtown Aurora, however, retail shopping Tower, the tallest building in the City, was built as declined and the last major department store closed a hotel in 1928 and was known for the Sky Club, its doors in 1982.11 a dinner and dancing venue where famous Jazz musicians played.7 Through the Great Depression and World War II, Aurora remained an industrial center. Manufacturing firms continued to locate in the City, attracted to the City’s skilled workforce, transportation access, and highly industrialized economy.8 By 1960, Aurora’s population reached 63,000 and the City was an economic center for areas of DuPage County and rural counties to the west. During this period, downtown Aurora was the center of activity for the City, containing many large department stores, small businesses, financial institutions, and theatres as well as rail service to areas across the United States.9

14 Downtown Aurora Master Plan Existing Conditions Report In response to changing economic conditions, the City pursued new economic development strategies for Downtown Aurora. Planners sought a riverboat casino for Stolp Island and converted downtown industrial buildings into stores and restaurants. In 1986, Stolp Island was added to the National Register of Historic Places and the island became home to a number of arts and culture attractions. The Paramount Theater was restored as the Paramount Arts Center in the 1970s. In the 1990s, the Riverfront Playhouse, David L. Pierce Art and History Center, and the Hollywood Casino opened on Stolp Island.12 With the help of grassroots efforts and active citizens, the local arts scene continues to grow. The City’s historic neighborhoods and buildings in downtown Aurora have been preserved and Stolp Island is the cultural center of the City. ADD PHOTO Downtown assets such as the Waubonsee Community College, the Paramount Arts Center, and RiverEdge Park draw thousands of residents and visitors, and the Fox River provides active recreation opportunities.

The City’s commitment to updating Seize the Future and creating a new Downtown Master Plan reflects the desire of residents, City leaders and business owners to ensure growth and prosperity in downtown Aurora.

Section 2: Background 15 Regional Setting Downtown Aurora is located in Kane County at the geographic center of The GO TO 2040 plan has 4 chapters: Livable Communities, Human Capital, the City, situated on Stolp Island and along sections of the east and west Efficient Governance, and Regional Mobility. banks of the Fox River. Approximately 40 miles west of downtown Chicago, the rest of Aurora extends into DuPage, Kendall, and Will Counties. The The most relevant GO TO 2040 recommendations for this project are those City is bordered by North Aurora and Batavia to the north, Naperville and concerned with: Warrenville to the east, Montgomery and Oswego to the south and Sugar • Changes in land use and housing that allow for more compact, walkable, Grove to the west. The City encompasses several pockets of unincorporated mixed-use development with a range of housing options land in the eastern section of the City near the Kane-DuPage County border. • Improvements to bicycling and walking conditions to increase the Aurora is a regional transportation hub in the Fox River Valley, situated percentage of people using active transportation close to highways, commuter rail service, and regional bikeways. Interstate • Support for economic innovation 88 passes through the northern section of the City, providing convenient access to downtown Aurora via Illinois Route 31. The Burlington Northern • Preserving and protecting natural resources Santa Fe (BNSF) Rail line runs through the City with Metra commuter • Improvements to public transportation to increase the transit mode share service at the Route 59 station and the Metra terminus at the Aurora The Downtown Aurora Master Plan’s highest priority is to provide guidance Transportation Center downtown. Chicago O’Hare International Airport is at the local level and to address community needs and desires. GO TO twenty six miles to the northeast and the regional Aurora Municipal Airport 2040 states that “municipalities are critical to the success of GO TO 2040 is located eight miles west of the City in Sugar Grove, Illinois. because of their responsibility for land use decisions, which create the built Relationship with GO TO 2040 environment of the region and determine the livability of its communities.” By undertaking a planning process to update the Seize the Future The Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning is the official regional Downtown Master Plan, the City of Aurora has taken responsibility for planning organization for the northeastern Illinois counties of Cook, guiding its future and demonstrated its commitment to helping shape the DuPage, Kane, Kendall, Lake, McHenry, and Will. CMAP developed and now future of the region as well. guides the implementation of GO TO 2040, metropolitan Chicago’s first comprehensive regional plan in more than 100 years. To address anticipated population growth of more than two million new residents, GO TO 2040 establishes coordinated strategies that help the region’s 284 communities address transportation, housing, economic development, open space, the environment, and other quality-of-life issues.

16 Downtown Aurora Master Plan Existing Conditions Report D E FFigureig 1.0 C i2.2ty of City Auro rofa a Aurorand Down tandown SDowntowntudy Area Study Area V T R A B S Batavia K AT A R R A I I V E IA V V K R A I D T R D S W

A R

S I

B N

T F S D

R W I

MOO AR E SEHEART RD R Warrenville RE A ¬56 NV « I L LLE

H K R D D D IELD R D R F R R I TE

BUT D R K H R D T A R T E AN P N R V ER I RD E R HEALY E W RD D FER OAK ST RY R D RY RD S FER

I N

C North Aurora O L

N D W R HL RD D W DIE A L D R R Y 88 L

§ A R E ¨¦ L Y H

S L RD M C L S A S DIEH I O T L D MOLITOR RD R I N D

B N I V M D R

E E

R A D

R V L R

R A

O D

H Naperville

R O

W «¬59 S IN E INDIAN TRAIL RD N DIA W INDIAN TRAIL RD N N R TRAIL RD N AURORA RD

N A R F L I

E V

N E «¬56 V I2

K R A

E E R e Route 59

V D

S D

A N

T e

g A

N L

a H GA D LE G N I G

AVE P A BLV W ILLINOIS a D H

N K

W D Y VE A A A UROR «¬31 W A W GALEN D A BLVD AI2 O R R Aurora B

Sugar Grove D

N N ST RK W «¬31 O Y

A W T NE L S E E

E E GA K LEN

G A IE ST A BLV PRAIR L D

D S

Y D S A £34 RICKERT DR R ¤ W

D A A L VE 75TH ST O O A R T N E E B S D G S S O H

D H

R ¬25 I « L

D D R L D O H R R IC A RY

R A E JE V OM

H G E ONT C M 83RD ST

O AUCUTT RD Montgomery

-30 DuPage US e

Kan D R

Will K

l D

Kendal O

O U

¤£30 B

A R

E L

R L

D I

- E L ST

I 95TH P

4 A -3 S N

U -

1 l

D L

3 E

Aurora Downtown SR tudy Area - I

9 F

A I 5

N l

I N

E L -

I a

L L

- D

I A

A 2 l

Aurora MuniciGpal Limits 5 S L d

F S i L

O P

D W W

Y n Unincorporated Areas e 59 E «¬

103RD ST

D V

R T

R S

04TH

K 1 A G RD S IN E

SS H County Boundary FS CRO G

Oswego WOL V

T S

Open Space 8

4 2 Water S

111TH ST Yorkville Miles I RANCE RD W 111TH ST 0 0.5 1 2 IL-71 «¬71 Plainfield Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning, 2015.

Section 2: Background 17 Recent past plans Aurora has a history of planning efforts with common themes and important implementation success stories. Capitalizing on the Fox River, encouraging business activity in the core, improving transportation options, preserving important architectural landmarks, and bringing east and west sides together are frequently mentioned. The following plans have been reviewed as part of this process:

• 1974 The Preliminary Development Program for Downtown Aurora • 2006 Historic Property Districts and Landmarks Guidelines were revised identified priority development projects through broad public engagement to protect the character of Aurora’s older neighborhoods and individual activities and action-oriented recommendations. historic landmarks. • 1984 The Strategic Plan for Downtown Aurora prepared for the Greater • 2007 RiverEdge Park Master Plan was approved for the protection and Aurora ChamberADD of Commerce PHOTO looked at development opportunities to restoration of public open spaces along the Fox River and envisioned a revitalize the downtown area over 3-5 years. regional destination complete with an outdoor performance venue. • 1987 The Report on Current Development Opportunities published for the • 2008 An update to the 1993 FoxWalk Overlay District Design Guidelines Aurora Downtown Redevelopment Corporation (ADRC) provided market provided design and development guidelines for buildings within downtown analyses, development factors, regulations and incentives. Aurora by emphasizing walkability, incorporating potential views of the Fox • 1993 Aurora’98: A Strategic Plan for the Development and Management of River, and respecting Aurora’s architectural history. Downtown identified strengths and weaknesses in downtown Aurora and • 2008 A Downtown Parking Study completed by Walker Parking proposed a new structure of organizations and stakeholders to manage Consultants found the parking spaces in downtown to be around 50% downtown development. occupied and recommended potential locations for future parking garages. • 1997 ULI presented a report on development needs and challenges for • 2009 The Sustainability Plan established broad strategies to improve downtown Aurora, with recommendations for transportation, residential long term environmental sustainability in Aurora such as encouraging housing stock, and market enhancements with a main goal of increasing sustainable growth, protecting natural resources, and reducing waste in City foot traffic in downtown. operations. • 2006 The Seize the Future Master Plan was developed as a long-term • 2009 The first Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan for Aurora focused on improved vision for downtown Aurora focusing on mixed use development and strong design, construction, and promotion of bike ridership and walkability. physical connections around Stolp Island and the Fox River. • 2011 Neighborhood Revitalization Strategy Amendment to take advantage • 2006 The Aurora Riverfront Vision Plan was adopted with the goal of enhanced flexibility of CDBG funds for pursuing economic development, of restoring the Fox River through open space, bicycle and pedestrian housing, and public services activities. connections, and mixed use development. • 2013 Downtown Parking Plan approved the removal of meters and new enforcement efforts based on time limits.

18 Downtown Aurora Master PlanExisting Conditions Report Successful implementation projects resulting from past plan What is missing from this list is a comprehensive plan for the City recommendations include the renovation and restoration of the Paramount of Aurora, which makes it more challenging to identify the role of the Arts Center, the completion of RiverEdge Park, closure of the gap in downtown in the overall growth and development of the City. The City the Fox River Trail bicycle route, additional portions of the RiverWalk maintains a land use planning map to guide development, but does not completed, roadway reconstruction to restore two-way travel to much of have a recent comprehensive plan. the study area, a downtown college campus, a new and modern library, reconstructed bridges, and much more.

Section 2: Background 19 Section 3 COMMUNITY OUTREACH Community engagement

Table 3.1 Early Public Participation and Engagement Common themes expressed so far at outreach To emphasize a broad-based inclusion activities:* Number of of the community, the outreach and Public Engagement Activities Make the downtown a destination place Participants with mixed used development and nightlife entertainment. engagement process has entailed 1st Steering Committee Meeting 15 New businesses are desired in the downtown close coordination with City staff Stakeholder Interviews 23 area such as diverse retail/shopping amenities Public visioning workshop 160 and restaurants to complement current arts and and the Steering Committee and culture scene. Online engagement (as of 3/15/16) The City should celebrate the diversity and involved several activities including MetroQuest Online Survey character of the community. meetings with the steering committee, Site visits 1106 Aurora suffers from a major perception (Completed surveys) (417) problem; people who haven’t been downtown in many years mistakenly think the river still confidential interviews with key Focus group presentations 45 smells bad, crime is rampant, parking is still metered, and there’s nothing to do. community leaders, a public visioning Social Media followers 138 Maintaining and preserving historic structures Total unique visitors interacting w/ Facebook page 237 and landmarks is an important way to maintain workshop, and an online survey and the downtown’s character. Total 1,725 social media. The following provides Absentee landowners are a problem with Source: CMAP, Metroquest, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Flickr. vacant downtown buildings. Some are waiting a summary of what has been done so for a better market to do anything with their property, while many buildings deteriorate. far; outreach activities will continue More improvements to streetscape elements would create an attractive and walkable during the course of the planning downtown. *These statements represent common perceptions process. Since the start of the formal from local stakeholders and may not represent factual conditions or the opinions of all who were planning process, over 1,700 residents interviewed. and stakeholders have participated (see Table 3.1).

Section 3: Community Outreach 21 How we involved the community

Committee of the Whole Meeting Steering Committee On October 6, 2015, CMAP staff joined a regular meeting of the The Steering Committee is tasked with providing guidance and Committee of the Whole to introduce members to the downtown plan feedback on existing issues and opportunities, developing central goals, project and to outline the proposed scope of work and study area reviewing plan documents, and identifying stakeholders who should be boundary. involved in the planning process. Composed of individuals representing a wide variety of interests and perspectives, the Steering Committee members include:

• 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

The Steering Committee Downtown Walking Tour on the riverfront trail. • Cynthia Penne, Fox Valley Park District • Cadence Peterson, Invest Aurora • Stephane Phifer, City of Aurora • Heather Tabbert, RTA • Bill Wiet, City of Aurora

22 Downtown Aurora Master Plan Existing Conditions Report Steering Committee meetings Key person interviews The first steering committee meeting was held on October 30, 2015, at In order to gain further insight into the issues and opportunities City Hall to provide background on CMAP and the planning process and that exist in Downtown Aurora, CMAP staff conducted interviews begin a conversation about the specific issues facing downtown Aurora. with 23 individuals representing a variety of backgrounds throughout The steering committee discussed the strengths of the downtown and the community. These individuals ranged from institutional and what they would like to see addressed in the plan. Strengths of the neighborhood leaders to business owners to elected officials. downtown included the arts and culture community, the architecture and historic buildings, the access to natural and open space amenities like While the conversations were designed to be confidential in order to the Fox River and River Edge Park, the diversity of the community, and promote an open dialogue, several broad themes emerged. Collectively, transit access. Concerns were also mentioned, including the need to make these stakeholders brought up many needs and challenges, ranging downtown a destination space with mixed used development, improved from economic development to mobility and streetscape improvements. water quality and recreation, housing amenities, historic preservation, Their input helped to frame the direction of the report and guide areas walkability, quality jobs, and the perception that downtown is unsafe. for additional inquiry and research.

The steering committee members identified many improvements that could occur in the downtown including: improving the streetscape elements to create an attractive and walkable downtown, attracting retail and restaurants to complement current arts activities; identifying development opportunity sites; pursuing state historic preservation funding to preserve historic structures, and developing a capital improvement plan that analyzes the downtown TIF districts and explores tax credits and potential funding revenue for public arts.

The second steering committee meeting discussed key findings from the existing conditions report and ways to further engage citizens and stakeholders in the planning process.

Section 3: Community Outreach 23 Public visioning workshop To initiate the public’s involvement in the downtown planning process, Using keypad polling, participants were asked to rank their priorities for a public visioning workshop was held to hear from residents and mobility improvements, vitality improvements, and things that they’d stakeholders. The workshop was held on January 21, 2016, at Waubonsee like to see more of in downtown. For downtown mobility improvements, Community College with over 160 residents and community stakeholders participants ranked walking and pedestrian environment (26%) as in attendance. Participants learned about the planning process through the top priority, while wayfinding and amenities (19%), and parking a brief presentation by CMAP. Participants were guided in a table (19%) tied for second. For downtown vitality improvements, business discussion with five questions: mix (24%) and entertainment/ culture (24%) were clear winners, with recreation and parks (11%) and Fox River (10%) competing for third 1. What do you love most about downtown Aurora? place. For what participants would like to see more of downtown, 2. What are some types of businesses (or events) that you leave Aurora restaurants (27%) and retail/shopping (26%) were the top choices, with to find, but would like to see downtown? lounge/nightclub in third place (13%) (Figure 3.3). 3. Besides having more destinations to walk to (and uncontrollable things like the weather), what are some ways to encourage people to walk more? 4. What are some barriers and/or challenges to revitalizing downtown Aurora? 5. What are some (additional) ways that downtown Aurora could leverage its strong arts and culture scene to attract businesses, restaurants, and more residents downtown?

24 Downtown Aurora Master Plan Existing Conditions Report Figure 3.1 Table discussion: What do you love about downtown Aurora?

Headline

ADD PHOTO

Meeting participants brought up many needs and challenges that they Participants associated the appearance of the downtown with absentee hope the downtown master plan will address, ranging from addressing landlords, permitting, and high costs to rehabilitate structures. Another the perception of safety in the downtown to business retention to common theme raised was the need to address the demographic divide. empty storefronts and vacant buildings. Attendees expressed concern Participants reflected on the growing diversity of the community and with the unattractive abandoned buildings and gateways. It is perceived the need to include all members into the strong sense of community that this poses challenges to attracting businesses, residents, and that is found in Aurora. A majority of the attendees were white, visitors to downtown and feeds into the misperception of a dangerous indicating a need for more targeted outreach in the community. city.

Section 3: Community Outreach 25 Figure 3.2 Table discussion: How can we encourage people to walk more?

Attendees also identified many strengths of Aurora, the things that the Meeting attendees saw an opportunity to improve the appearance of downtown should be well known for and are important to residents. the City and better market the downtown to attract more businesses, People, architecture, arts and culture scene and events like First residents, and visitors. One idea is to create community-oriented events Fridays and music at the River Edge Park were frequently mentioned. –like outdoor activities such as walking tours, fitness challenges, and Individual businesses – like Two Brothers Roundhouse, Ballydoyle, music festivals. Additional ideas included streetscape improvements, and La Quinta – as well as individual buildings, like the new library, wayfinding signage, public gathering spaces, and public art. Paramount Theater, and Waubonsee Community College were also mentioned. Attendees also identified the growing diversity of the community as an important asset.

26 Downtown Aurora Master Plan Existing Conditions Report Headline

ADD PHOTO What are your top 3 priorities for What are your top 3 priorities for What are your top 3 priorities for mobility improvements? downtownWhat are your vitality top 3 priorities improvements? for vitality improvements? downtown mobility improvements? 30% 30%

26% 24% 25% 24% 25%

20% 19% 20% 19%

15% 15%

12% 11% 11% 10% 10% 10% 9% 9% 8%

6% 6%

5% 5% 4% 3%

0% 0% Wayfinding & Access to Metra Lighting Walking and Bicycling Traffic flow Parking Bus service Recreation and Business Mix Historic Safety Housing options Public Art Entertainment Fox River Amenities trains pedestrian Parks Preservation and culture environment

Section 3: Community Outreach 27 0% Age? Under 20 6% 8% 20 – 29 19% 30 – 39 24% 40 – 49 50 – 59 19% 60 – 69 22% 70 or better

Figure 3.3 Keypad polling results from the public workshop Race?

What is your Nogender? What is your age? 2% 1% African American answer 0% / Black 0% 1% 3% 5% Age? Under 20 No answer, 3% 5% Asian 6% 8% 20 – 29 Caucasian / 11% White 19% 30 – 39 Hispanic / Latino 24% 40 – 49 Female, Native American 50 – 59 Male, 48% / Alaska Native 0% Native Hawaiian / Age? Under 20 50% 19% 60 – 69 Pacific Islander 6% 8% 20 – 29 22% Multi-racial 70 or better 19% 30 – 39 Other 24% 40 – 49 Race? 72% 50 – 59 Prefer not to 19% answer 60No – 69 2% What would youGender? like to see more 22% 1% African American answer70 or better 0% 1% 3% 5%of in downtown/ Black Aurora? (TOP 3) 3% Race? 5% What would you Asianlike to see more of downtown? (TOP 3) What is your race? 30%

27% No 2% Caucasian / 1% African American 26% answer 0% 11% White 1% 3% 5% / Black 25% 3% 5% Asian Hispanic / Latino

Caucasian / Female, 20% Native American 11% White Male, 48% Hispanic / Latino / Alaska Native Native Hawaiian / Female, 50% 15% Native American Pacific Islander 13% Male, 48% / Alaska Native Multi-racial Native Hawaiian / 50% Pacific Islander 10% 9% Multi-racial 8% 72% Other 6% 6% 72% Other 5% Prefer not4% to Gender? Prefer not to answer answer Gender? 0% A variety of Public art / Tourism / hotel Offices Retail / Restaurants Lounge / Museums / housing options sculptures shopping Nightclub schools amenities

28 Document Title Goes Here Figure 3.4. Metroquest Map points identified (2/8/16) MetroQuest Online Survey To be as inclusive as possible and reach a broader audience, CMAP also developed an interactive website to engage people who could not attend meetings. Additionally, a Spanish version of the survey was created to reach participants with limited English proficiency. This online tool serves to educate the community about the purpose of the project and learn about their priorities and preferred choices to address issues in and around downtown Aurora. As of February 15th, 2016, the web site has received over 747 visits with 323 people leaving behind detailed comments on the challenges, priorities, and opportunities for mobility and vitality issues in downtown Aurora. The interactive survey launched on January 21st and will be open through April 20th.

Moving forward, CMAP staff will continue to work with steering ADD PHOTO committee members and local groups to promote the survey to residents, service users, and employees. The online survey is accessible through the City’s website and has been promoted in the local newspaper, the Facebook page, as well as through fliers distributed to public event participants. During the months of March and April, iPad kiosks with the survey will be dispatched and circulated at various high traffic locations throughout the City to ensure access to the online survey. Social Media / Interactive Engagement To expand upon traditional methods of community engagement, CMAP LTA staff is using social media platforms to promote the project, engage a broader audience, and provide links to interactive engagement efforts. A Facebook page, a Twitter account, an Instagram account, and a Flickr page are in active use and have reached over 1,000 people. A recorded version of the presentation was uploaded to YouTube for people who were unable to attend the public visioning workshop. On February 9th, 2016, over 1,000 unique users were reached through the Facebook page, and an average of 26 people engage with the project’s Facebook content on a weekly basis. A screenshot of map comments submitted through mid February. Source: CMAP.

Section 3: Community Outreach 29 Section 4 TRANSPORTATION AND CIRCULATION Transportation overview

Stakeholder interview comments related to This section provides an overview of existing transportation options within Aurora. In Transportation:* order to develop appropriate recommendations for improving active transportation, Everyone always complains about parking. When it was metered, they complained about this section outlines information about how people access the downtown area, how paying. Now that it’s free, they complain that they can’t park for longer. they travel within the downtown area, and potential barriers to increased active People would walk more if there were more destinations to walk to. transportation. The information in this section was obtained from various sources, Biking from the Fox River Trail to ATC / such as the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT), Regional Transportation Roundhouse is unpleasant. There is the culture of the car here. Authority (RTA), Metra, Pace, Cook County, the City of Aurora, and is also based Parking is particularly problematic by Restaurant Row. upon a visual assessment of existing conditions in the community. Entering downtown along Broadway from the north is unattractive. Key Findings The number of bicyclists is increasing. There are many regional bike routes close by, downtown is where the connections fall short. • One-way streets lower overall access and connectivity. • Pedestrian infrastructure in the downtown core Parking on Broadway is dangerous and many people with kids avoid it entirely. The City is in the process of converting many is strong. Sidewalks, planters, and clearly marked *These statements represent common perceptions downtown one-way streets to two-way streets, which crosswalks are present throughout much of the study from local stakeholders and may not represent factual conditions or the opinions of all who were may cause initial confusion, but should result in area, with excellent examples in the core. The corridor interviewed. improved safety, traffic flow, and business visibility. along Broadway, connecting to the train station, needs • While only two blocks away from downtown improvement. Aurora, the Metra station feels disconnected from • Major gateways into the downtown area are the downtown. Due to an unfriendly pedestrian unappealing. The first impression when driving environment, the eight-minute walk along the state into the downtown area is mixed, depending on the highway to the downtown core is perceived to be far, direction of travel. unpleasant, and to some, dangerous. • Pace and Metra serve Downtown Aurora, but Aurora • Aurora has a rapidly improving bicycle route network. transit ridership is low. While there are approximately Completion of the City’s first barrier-protected bike 4,000 people getting on or off trains at the Aurora lane (along River Street) fills a major gap in the Metra Station during the weekday, less than five regional trail network, and improved connections to percent of Aurora’s commuting population uses transit City neighborhoods are forthcoming. to get to work. (key findings continue on next page)

Section 4: Transportation and Circulation 31 Key Findings (continued)

• After an in-depth analysis of low Pace ridership in early 2015, the agency • Intersections along Broadway, New York Street, and Galena have high crash has instituted changes to routes in the Fox Valley District. incidents. For people walking, biking, or driving, these streets have a poor • According to the 2008 Walker Parking Study, there are approximately safety record. 650 on-street and 3,550 off-street parking spaces in the downtown core, • Aurora households drive more miles annually than the regional average, with more in the full study area. The City updated parking policies in 2013 but fewer than Kane County households. Despite the walkable downtown and continues to improve the system with some areas experiencing more area, bus and train service, households utilize their car for daily needs more parking congestion than others. frequently than the regional average. Walking

Sidewalks and crossings Sidewalks, which provide a dedicated right-of-way for pedestrians, represent Downtown Aurora has a mostly complete sidewalk network, with sidewalks the most basic and essential element in walkable communities. However, on both sides of the street and within the parks and open space. There the mere presence of sidewalks does not guarantee that travel on foot will are crosswalks on all sides of all major intersections in the downtown be safe, comfortable, and convenient. Sidewalks vary in quality and in the core, usually with the preferred “international style” zebra stripe design. experience they offer to those who use them. Issues such as obstructions, Pedestrians do not, however, have automatic right-of-way at these poor maintenance, lack of accessibility features, insufficient width, proximity intersections. Instead, pedestrians must request passage through “push-to- to high-speed traffic, and gaps in the network can limit the utility and walk” buttons. By prioritizing synchronized traffic signals and implementing function of sidewalks. Sidewalks along high-speed, high-volume roadways optional pedestrian crossings, the rapid thru-movement of vehicles with no separation or buffer are especially inadequate. Although such an is encouraged to the detriment of walkability. Outside the core, most arrangement meets the basic requirement of providing a walkway, the intersections have the standard parallel line crossings marked. danger and discomfort of walking along such facilities discourages walking.

32 Downtown Aurora Master Plan Existing Conditions Report Figure 4.1 A

Route 25, or Broadway, does not have a sidewalk on the east side of the street from Illinois Avenue south until the parking lot for Gil and Cruz Attorneys at Pierce Street. The lot at the southeast corner of Illinois and Broadway is built out to the curb and is inhospitable to pedestrians and the east side of Broadway is entirely inaccessible to people using wheelchairs (Figure 4.1 A). While it would seem impossible to walk on this side of Broadway (and it is certainly dangerous), worn paths (“goat trails”) indicate that people do walk here (Figure 4.1 B).

The sidewalk that does exist along Route 25 is quite narrow for a high- Figure 4.1 B speed four lane arterial with no on-street parking, particularly on the east side of the street where there is no parkway separating the narrow sidewalk from the fast-moving traffic (Figure 4.1 C). The presence of truck traffic, buses, and high-speed automobiles along Route 25 makes this stretch particularly harrowing for pedestrians, with no barriers between them and the moving vehicles. This corridor is a key connector between the downtown’s core (restaurants, Paramount Theatre, the Hollywood Casino, bars), the area’s only hotel, the Two Brothers Roundhouse and the Metra station. Within the downtown core, Broadway’s traffic counts drop and there is on-street parking, but the 4 narrow lanes (plus parking) create traffic problems and make it very difficult to parallel park.

Water Street Mall is a one-block pedestrian mall on the east side of the river between Galena Boulevard and Downer Place. Municipal cars drive on the street, but it is otherwise closed to vehicular traffic and provides Figure 4.1 C a pleasant pedestrian connection and an excellent location for outdoor events such as First Fridays. It did not become the retail center that was hoped for in the 1970s, suffering a similar fate to other regional pedestrian malls, but it remains an asset for the downtown core.

Figure 4.1 (A-C) Inhospitable pedestrian environment on Route 25

Section 4: Transportation and Circulation 33 Figure 4.3 Intersection safety CALIFORNIA AVE

FLORIDA AVE Intersections and safety Illinois FOREST AVE

E Avenue V

A VE

SUNSET A Park

D N

Of the 133 intersections in the study area, 25 are signalized with traffic E 3/5 / O V

T M A

R S Intersections Inventory 11/5

/ M LAWNDALE AVE V E C

A W T

H 1/0 H lights, 55 have stop signs, and 53 are not controlled. “Not controlled” T E

I A E

L Pigeon

V R

L Signalized with Pedestrian Button (24)

D L

N 2/1

I Hill

A G

V intersections are mostly T-intersections with no cross-street, but in some I Park

L Signalized, No Pedestrian Button (1) E 10/2 N / E ILLINOIS AVE cases, there is a cross-street with a “yield” sign on one street. As shown in E / 31/20 / 1/2 30/8 V

- Stop Sign (55) W ILLINOIS AVE A A

Figure 4.3, Broadway, New York Street, and Galena Boulevard have higher R / EDWARDS ST

Not Signalized (53) S

Illinois U

R McCullough T concentrations of all crashes (bike, pedestrian, auto) than other streets in E Avenue

E S

D / Total number of crashes (2011-13) Park / / RURAL ST V

I E Island Park A

W A the study area. An analysis of bicycle and pedestrian crashes found that A

E T within 100 ft of the intersection L W

V S A O

A I P T

E O 1 - 4 / total numA ber of injuries

I /

V many of the pedestrian crashes occurred on Broadway during the late 11/7 O E N N A / 1/0 R V

V A N

5 - 11 A

K K

A E

evening to early morning hours, particularly between Galena Boulevard S

R r

O 2/1

N / S

12 - 20 G N T e

T E

S P and Downer Place. Further investigation into lighting conditions and T 21 - 32 v H

Y Stevens Playground i / 7/3 H A IAMS ST View Street Park 33 - 55 WILL

speeding along this stretch of the roadway is recommended. M / R

Y A

W T x D

T A S S W PARK O The two most dangerous intersections in the study area for all types of AVE R K 1/0 E o R V B W I FRON A 1/0 R N / T ST VI 18/9 F H N E N crashes are (1) Lake Street (IL-31) and New York Street, followed by (2) K S North / C CED T T AR ST A S 1/0 Wilder 1/0 L 2/1 River

T T B GR S Park OV E Broadway and Galena Boulevard, with 55 and 48 crashes (respectively) U 6/3 Street Park ST

T N

S T

1/0 T S U

S E C 1/0 1/0

H / within 100 feet of the intersections between 2011 and 2013. O 2/3 N L C S O U PERIO R S N S N T 5/4 / R

2/1 3/2 3/2 F 8/1 F

E I2 E J As part of the 2009 Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan, the City of Aurora E 2/1 V W GA Aurora V LENA A BL A VD 3/2 2/1 Metra N 5/2 Y 55/22 L

E O T Station planning staff conducted a Walkability Assessment using the Walkability L

S 1/0 C 4/1 L

N A T I T / L V U 28/6 CO S L T U MB N 15/3 W N IA S S T Y Checklist distributed by the Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center. T N A E 2/1 S 9/1 2/0 W W M E Y E / I O 1/0 H S 23/10 R 9/9 / / V 3/0 K C 1/0 C LA The intersections studied include four in the downtown study area: S IM ST S 1/0 T S G 2/0 / ARFIEL L 4/1 D AVE P 10/9 T / W Y 4/1 15/6 O 32/8 T / COLLE D 12/1 S GE A O H VE / W H • Illinois Avenue and Lake Street (IL-31) / N 2/2 T T E 4 S R T P N S E 8/2 L T K E 4/1 G A 7/2 48/15 O FL / L V W AGG S A S A 13/9 O T L E B R L EN E T T 2/2 S N • New York Street and Broadway Street (IL-25) 1/0 D S O P S D N 2/1 L R T / C I R ST 2/1 4/0 IN FULT M E P 1/0 T O R V G N ST 6/6 O I K S S / S R 18/11 R / T S R / S 20/4 A L E S P E E P N • Galena Boulevard and Broadway Street (IL-25) T C V 5/1 4/2 W K EW A N 6/0 2/4 2/0 R Y N 17/6 A O E P R P W 7/5 K A 25/8 E S L S D 9/3 7/2 T • New York Street and River Street O N O / W / 6/1 6/4 12/4 7/2 14/6 E For pedestrian crashes, Broadway Street clearly stands out for T GAL 3/0 S ENA 3/0 T T BLVD S 12/4 O / O N incapacitating and non-incapacitating injuries (Figure 4.4). For bicyclists, R O 10/9 S S 2/2 C R 1/0 LA E PRA R D Aurora Downtown Study Area IR K N E New York Street has a number of crashes, but the overall pattern of IE ST A DOWNER PL S S T T S Aurora Municipal Limits E 2/1 L 1/3 / L crashes is more dispersed. For drivers, Galena Boulevard seems to have T A A V C E BE 3/0 S O UnincorporatedN TAOrNe aS N T A S K T L T R S

16/13 S T A T slightly more crashes than other streets, as well as Broadway from Spring N S L / OpT en Space S L Y O C A H S I P 5/4 1/0 T T W T 2ND A N T N N VE O 4 S RTH R U D AVE I E C O E Water A S V H I

Street to Benton Street. E S A O H S V T V R T K D A 5 B R E O C S O N B O L A Miles J W W O L E S P C 0 0.125T 0.25 S T T I N I T S

O T S R L N N S A Chicago Metropolitan AgencyN for Planning, 2015.

O R A

G S M

N A I 4TH AVE

H W

34 Downtown Aurora Master Plan Existing Conditions Report ( ( ( ( ( (

( ( ( ( ( ( FigureFig 9.7 4.4Dow nDowntowntown Aurora's Aurora’sReported( A uReportedto, Pedestri aAuto,n and B Pedestrian,icycle Crashes (and2008 Bicycle-12) Crashes (2008( - 2012) (

FOREST AVE FOREST AVE FOREST AVE

)"30 )"35 )"30 )"35 )"30 )"35

)"30 )"30 )"30 )"30 )"30 )"30

( W ILLINOIS AVE ( ( ( W ILLINOIS AVE ( ( ( W ILLINOIS AVE ( (

E E E

F F F

V V V

S S S

A A A

F F F

N N N

D D D

S S S

N N N

B B B

N N N

A A A

L L L

B B B

H H H

G G G

T T

T I I

I )"35 )"35 )"35

S S

H H H

N N N E E E

K K K

A A A L Y L Y L Y A A A N N N )"30 W )"30 W )"30 W D D D A A A )" O )" O )" O 30 ( R 30 ( R 30 ( R (B (B (B ( N ( N ( N )"30 )"30 )"30 ( W ( W ( W GAL «¬31 GAL «¬31 GAL «¬31 (ENA BL )"30 W I2 (ENA BL )"30 W I2 (ENA BL )"30 W I2 VD VD VD ( NE ( NE ( NE W «¬25 W «¬25 W «¬25 )"( )"( )"( 30 YO 30 YO 30 YO R ( R ( R ( (K (K (K ( S ( S ( S T )" )" T )" )" T )" )" ( ( 30 3(0 ( ( 30 3(0 ( ( 30 3(0 ( («¬31 ( ( ( («¬31 ( ( ( («¬31 ( ( T T T ( S ( S ( S R ( E R ( E R ( E F ( F ( E F ( E E T V S N T V S N T IV S N S I )" E S I )" E S )" E R N 30 W R N 30 W R N 30 W E S ( B E S ( B E S ( B K ( Y K ( Y K ( Y O O O A R A R A E R (L )"30 E (K (L )"30 E (K (L )"30 (K )" S )" S )" S G 30 )"30( G ST )"30 30 )"30( G ST )"30 30 )"30( A ST )"30 E A E A E B L B L B L E E E E E E N N N N N N " Y (A " Y (A " Y (A )30 A TO ( )30 A TO ( )30 A TO B ( N BLVD N BLVD N LVD ( W ( ( W ( ( W ( D S D S D S )"30 A T )"30 A T )"30 A T O ( O ( O ( ( R ( R ( R F B F B F B ( NS S ( NS S ( NS S B T B T B T

S ( S ( S (

( H ( H ( H

T T T

5 5 5

Auto Crashes Pedestrian Crashes Bike Crashes

*# (! " Property Damage Property Damage Property Damage *# )" Reported, not evident Reported, not evident Injury (Type C) (! Reported, not evident Injury (Type C) *# )" Non-incapacitating Injury Non-incapacitating Injury (Type B) (! Non-incapacitating Injury (Type B) )" Incapacitating Injury #* Incapacitating Injury (Type A) !( Incapacitating Injury (Type A) *# Fatal (! Fatal

Open Space Freight Rail Lines Source: IDOT, Division Water ( Signalized Intersection of Traffic Safety, 2013. I2 Metra Stations Speed Limit 35 Miles Metra Rail Lines 0 0.5 1

Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning, 2015.

Section 4: Transportation and Circulation 35 N PARK AVE FigureFig 9.7 a D 4.5ownto IntersectionwJnay Aceuerora - Intersect idensityons Safety OAKWOOD AVE

Park E

V A MANOR PL E AVE

L PIN

S E

MICHIGAN AVE S JUNGELS AVE N Intersection Density A A

U N

High R E Z COLORADO AVE O HANKES AVE R

E A

V A

Low V RMES AVE E HE

E E D

C N

E A

R RD

A SHEFFE O V

A A

I M Intersection Density and Walk Score A N Illinois

L M

L A A FOREST AVE

E Avenue H

L S NSET AVE Y SU

S Park E E

S U

O V T V VE Like most neighboring communities, the City of Aurora N GATES A

T ZENGELE AVE R T

A A

S T

S ERTZ AVE LEHN

N S

E E D E

LAWNDALE AV R

Y W T

T A

A T E T

A V I Pigeon

is considered a “car-dependent city,” where most O I

R S

E M L

L R

D H Hill N

N R

G A N I G V

D N Park H errands require the use of a car. While Aurora has a I E

N ILLINOIS AVE

E E

IS AVE H WalkScore™ of 37 (Car-dependent), the downtown core W ILLINO S EDWARDS ST

N Illinois has a WalkScore™ of 83 (Very Walkable), and a transit McCullough E L Avenue A May V Park RURAL ST

A T

Island Park E

Street S

score of 41 (Some Transit). The ratings mostly rely on A

S S

Park W

M E T O

I T A

V r S

A D

the number of accessible amenities, but also include V D A

D A e PIERCE O E ST

N K O

L W

R I v factors such as access to transit, intersection density, PLUM ST O

G W i S

G block length, and population density. Strategies that help R I View Street Park H Copley Park to create a more connected and attractive pedestrian x

S DELIUS AVE W PA Y K RK AV o C E A HARLES network focus on the importance of clear wayfinding S W T W

A F D H F A RON T V T ST K IN North River SPRU S CEDA E O C R E C T S systems, connections to transit and other modes, as ST T S R T Street A T S B

L U

T N B Park N T GR S OV T E S S T U well as public space amenities such as street furniture, S

C N T

E S

H O O

L S C

E R

N C landscaping, and public art. Having a high-quality N V E A A

F E

N F B

L E

W J G O pedestrian experience is important to encourage more ALENA Aurora BLV C D W T T N N Metra S S I E W L

N T T Y Station people to walk and to enhance overall quality of life T O N U O S R I S K N

N Y S T T COLU U A W MB S IA ST

E M E I N through increased environmental sustainability, safety,

V H

C S C LAIM ST S E and mobility. V A T E P COL S LEG V HAR L E AVE A DIN O H AVE T T S 4 T D S N E N N V T FL KA A A NE A GG S ST O T T L E O S While a fairly fine-grained street grid pattern is found H G L

A D R E G E I L ID N V T E A H M S T A T in many neighborhoods close to the downtown, many S T S T S McCarty S S R PR ING A E ST N T T Park E S A E N other areas have large barriers to connectivity. Within E W K NEW A S YO L RK ST S the study area, there are roughly 130 intersections per E T S GAL ENA T BLVD square mile. Areas are typically considered very walkable C O O LA R R K S NO S PRAIRIE ST R T

when there are at least 140 intersections per square mile. T TH E DOWNER PL A S VE E T A S The Fox River and the BNSF railroad, as well as long V C O O N E BENTO K N R ST ST 2N R T D Y A L S A L S P

block lengths north and south of the downtown core T W C T D R 2ND AVE A E I T E O T S V

V R S

(from Clark Street to North Avenue on LaSalle Street is A B E

R E D S T L B E N T O S ORTH AVE V P E E A I

O E T V V T L T R S

W A T A roughly 1500 feet), prevent a continuous street grid and L N S E S N S

A A R T

S S S L T H R E O O S S A G T C R L C T A 4 4 N ATuHr AoVra Downtown Study Area N E N S E decrease walkability in the study area (Figure 4.5). S I S O L E H HO S YL S ES AV P S T E K S 5

SOUT C Aurora Municipal Limits H AV S E T A

T J S VE S GEORGE A

N Unincorporated Area N

W O EST A ON A T VE S M S

N A B I S 5TOHp AeVnE Space L T S H E W U MIN G AR O F Y AV N F E N

L S M T A

Water C T B T E T S A V S T A MAR S I A S ON A VE E D Miles M T R South River N L A A O A 0 0.175 0.35 E G ER AVE S T 6T ZIEGL Street Park VA T H AVE N X 36 Downtown Aurora Master Plan Existing Conditions Report S A E MAPLE A Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning, 2015. VE S VE A

R TURNER RD

A FigureFigureO 4.6 4.5. Local Regional bicycle and routes Local and Bicycle facilities Network S y

A T a V w R E e D D ik Gregory LN R B Indian Trail Road L n Trail Road L l Indian Park Indian Tr Bikeway E o W INDIAN TRAIL RD H ALYCE LN c C n IT i Kane/Kendall Council of Mayors (3/25/2W0 1O5L)D INDIAN TRL M L

A Local bicycle facilities U LAKELAWN BLVD R E EDISON AVE D O V

R A

Biking R F

Existing L H

N PARK AVE o A L Jaycee x C

A E R R V Planned & Programmed S Park i E U v S MANOR PL PINE AVE H e A

N R r ICHARD ST L T City of Aurora Bicycle and Pedestrian PlanM I(C2009) HIGAN AVE r ELS AVE N JUNG a Around town T

A N i

S V Existing l

R L

A - E E ES AVE O NK A HA

W V

C H K

E A

T Planned E E

V e L The City of Aurora has outlined policy goals of providing safer conditions L

V D RMES AVE A HE S s A

E N T t E P A D

V R R

I SHEFFE O

E R A W Regional Greenways & Trails Plan (CMAP, 2011) V N for cyclists and pedestrians and encouraging residents to use their O M

A D

E M FOREST AVE O V Illinois Avenue Park

Y N

A M

L E

M A

Existing A

A SUNSET AVE

A H

Y V

L T

bikes or walk for short, local trips. The 2009 Bicycle and Pedestrian N A h GATES AVE

S H

O D

O c AVE Planned & Programmed E LEHNERTZ G D

I E

R ALE AV

N LAW W D n

E T

N AVE H

L HAVE

NEW E E T a

D Pigeon O

I r

E Plan includes a number of recommendations specific to bicycling, such F

P A E

N V B L

H Hill

O N N

L N

I a L MOUNTAIN ST

W Park r G

O M as improved signage and wayfinding, improved connections to schools, o

r L

N OIS AVE u E ¬ W ILLIN

« I

A N neighboring municipalities, transit, and regional trails. Additionally, the E EDWARDS ST -

N V Greene E A

E McCullough McCleery §88 h

¨¦ May V

t V N RURAL ST Park A

A Park a

O plan recommends educational and promotional programs for bicycling, as Park E Street «¬59

P y A

T R

V «¬

25 E T

A R E e W

Park

V i

S T

S r W O

D A i I

« S

47 V D M

R E well as recommendations for future infrastructure. e a R

A A

D r k

¬ P O A « I 56V ER E

i CE S C N T

K P

O B

N A T

Aurora L s

r T S W

N PLUM

O A i

R O

T S D L

O o

W S

n H S

d N

I View i

Y l o l G

I R The major bicycling gaps in the study area identified in the 2015 revisions «¬31 A I Copley o Street Y H

R M

w A

A Park T Park N W m H ¤£30 S l E Fox D to the Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan are in the downtown core on either E Riv N e K r T V ra A W PARK AV il Conne F A E ct ron W or O t Street Bikeway S A T R PRUCE S L T L V H S B F RO side of the Fox River, where the Fox River trail has some stops and starts. ¤£34 C IN NT ST E K ED T AR E North River N ST T S S C ¬ U T «59 S T «¬ S 47 A Street Park N S T G L U A RO

The plan revision also recognizes the poor connectivity between the T urora VE S T B T R O N City S of L S O O ig hts E Transportation Bikew «¬71 N R S

a H y H

C C neighborhoods west of the river and the Aurora Transportation Center. N Center

E A Ci W N ty G F of Lights ALENA I2 E Bik B F eway LVD B W T W Aurora E S Other bicycling priorities in the plan include: development of consistent DOW N J NE R PL EW T N T Y Metra S O O S

I GAR R F Y K Station signage and wayfinding, addressing safety issues, reducing conflict points, IELD A NCOL V W S U E A MBIA ST T U

M I

N E V

R S and using a city-wide approach to sidewalk and bikeway development. V CLAIM S

D A H E ST A RDIN A T VE V

D C M S OL A LEGE

O A

A V KEN H E SI D E E N T H O GT ON PL V 4 N

V D A

W T

A A N KA E R NE S S L M L T L E E AK O EW G L O D O H y V D P E

D L A F D a

E I A I G T

L I E M w S S e A S T H k T E S i B McCarty S S

L T P S Lincoln S R I A t NG S

G S T Park E Park r N N e I iv E NE N R W YO T RK ST S E K E A D GA L ow LEN C n A BL S LA e VD N R r Pl Bik O K eway (Ex.) R ST PRAIRIE ST TH E DOWNE A R PL V y Benton St E T Bikeway (Ex.) E a C V w E E A 2 e K BENTON ST V N k L N D i R T A P

B A S W S A T L

D v L T R A C 2ND A T R E V IDGEWAY A D E E I R V O V n S O A l

E O V E F T o L D E

c E

W S T T 3 P

R O n B V

i A

R D O E L T T S Y L 4 A A T W N th Ave A L nue B S E ikew T H A ay

W A S V S S R S Copley D ir O A G 4TH AVE A g T R A L Island il O y E S G S a RATHBONE AVE i R S l R B SO Park m UTH A w E VE a S e Aurora Downtown Study Area n V GEORGE AVE I k T T E i R V r W S E B a STO i A N AV l E T S t N T Aurora MuRnicipal Limits B S e S E L L U S EM e 5T E H C O IN T A T F A VE N RY r N V F C AVE S t N S O A S O N I T E JERICHO RD E I S Unincorporated Areas H S H L N K P h T K C M T A A U R T S S I t O 5 N

T AV C L I T E S S 5 S South River S A E D S T J PN arking Lots T N S ZIEGLER AVE W D Street Park O S H A A O N Z R MAP S B E LE AV M S 6T E T O H A L O N G V T OA penI Space A T E V C h N E X S H t N W T

A u E O L S IN A E T T D B 7 S E T o N AVE H AVE C V S S M Water IS S A E L E V - N E D A T l T A O R i T A a T A R N Miles G S r E E Park E E A illips V V T V Y Ph I B 0 0.25 0.5 A r A A S IM L E M T S F ST e L Montgomery O N S S A Victor Dunn v O i A L

L S L R Memorial Park A R Section 4: Transportation and Circulation G 37

x M A

o E BIND O ER F ST P D As ASHLAND AVE hland Ave nue Bikeway Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning, 2015. Strava Data In the absence of a more thorough bicycling audit, it is difficult to say with certainty where people are bicycling most – or whether most cycling trips are primarily for recreation or for transportation. One source of information about cyclists’ travel routes is Strava Labs Global Heat Map.13 This map visualizes the routes and the aggregated volume of cyclists using the Strava app on their smartphones as they ride. An obvious caveat regarding Strava Labs’ data is that it applies only to people actively using the app. These users tend to be serious, confident, and experienced cyclists who are more likely to be bicycling for fitness and recreation than for transportation; they may often be riding in groups or with cycling clubs. They are less likely to be low income riders, and more likely to be male. Nevertheless, in the absence of better data, Strava data is useful since cyclists of all levels and abilities tend to seek out and utilize safe and

convenient routes and avoid less safe, higher stress routes. Source: Strava Heat Labs, 2015

The downtown Aurora residential neighborhoods are considerably less represented in the Strava heat maps (Figure 4.6 A) than the residential areas around Naperville’s downtown (Figure 4.6 B). Similar to the Village of North Aurora, downtown Aurora shows a consistent stream of bicyclists traveling along the Fox River without particularly strong connections to the neighborhoods or the downtown. This does not mean that people are not biking in the study area; it is simply an indicator that more Strava users are biking through downtown along the river without much deviation from the path. The popular biking routes for Strava users in Aurora line up well with Google Maps’ identified bicycle facilities and bike-friendly roadways (Figure 4.7 A), while they seem to use almost all roadways in Naperville (Figure 4.7 B). For Strava users that do travel between the Aurora neighborhoods and the Fox River Trail, the roads most frequently used to connect to the trail are Downer Place and Benton Street. This is not surprising since these streets have the most traffic calming infrastructure improvements, which creates a more comfortable cycling environment.

13. Strava Labs is a project of Strava Inc., a bicycle ride and run tracking and sharing app. Strava Labs does not produce a legend for their heat map. The map represents generalized frequency of rides by Strava users. Red lines indicate more users, blue lines fewer users. Thicker and darker lines mean more users.

38 Downtown Aurora Master Plan Existing Conditions Report Figure 4.6 A Figure 4.6 B

Source: Strava Heat Labs, 2015 Source: Strava Heat Labs, 2015

Figure 4.7 A Figure 4.7 B

Source: Google Maps, 2015 Source: Google Maps, 2015 39 Regional Biking / Routes and Trails

The downtown network of bike routes and trails works to connect the To connect the final gap on the west side of the river, the City constructed river, downtown, and nearby residential communities. The major regional an on-street protected bike lane along River Street. The project is the bikeways near the downtown study area are the Fox River Trail and the first of its kind in Aurora and one of very few protected bikeways in the Virgil Gilman trail to the south of the study area. The Fox River trail region. The innovative arrangement is designed to add extra protection for extends north into McHenry County with inconsistent connectivity people on bikes. It can still cause confusion for drivers and will take some through Aurora, where there are path segments on both sides of the river. adjusting, but the hope is that the extra level of protection will entice new The completion of the River Edge Park included a path that goes from a riders to try bicycling in town. parking lot north of New York Street along the park, to connect to the Aurora spur of the Illinois Prairie Path trail. There is bicycle traffic throughout the study area and there are bike racks at some of the businesses as well as at the Aurora Metra station. Bike South of downtown, the west side Fox River Trail connects to the Virgil lockers are located at the Aurora Transportation Center, in a parking space Gilman Nature Trail, and continues into Oswego. Until recently, the near the drop off area. The Two Brothers Brewery (adjacent to the ATC) bikeway gap between the northern and southern portions of the Fox River often attracts large groups of bicyclists, especially in the summer months, trail was an important missing link. In 2004, in collaboration with the Fox and has cited a need for additional bike racks at the Roundhouse. There Valley Park District, the Kane County Forest Preserve District, the City of are some difficult crossings that are not trail gaps, but could be considered Aurora sought to fill this gap. As a result of this collaboration, pathways barriers to easy access for people on bicycles. Planned and programmed along the river were provided as part of new developments such as routes in the study area will better connect local neighborhoods to the Waubonsee Community College and the River Street Plaza development. downtown area.

40 Downtown Aurora Master Plan Existing Conditions Report Section Title Here 41 Transit

Metra

The Aurora Metra Station (Route 25) is the last commuter station on the These numbers for pedestrian access to the station are low compared BNSF line. The station is about an eight-minute walk from the downtown to other stations on the BNSF line (93 percent at Hollywood, 60 percent core. Each weekday, 29 trains depart Aurora for Chicago’s Union Station at the Harlem station, 54 percent at Riverside, for example).15 During a and 31 trains arrive in Aurora from Chicago. Of Aurorans who work in the typical weekday, about twenty percent of all BNSF riders walk to their Chicago Central Business District, 68 percent ride Metra to work. train station and slightly fewer than half drive alone. In early 2016, the Regional Transportation Authority conducted a Pedestrian Access Study The two stations to the east are Route 59 and Naperville, about 5.9 miles for the Aurora and Route 59 stations to understand conditions and make and 9 miles east of the Aurora station, respectively. All three stations have recommendations for improvements. seen an increase in weekday ridership levels since the 1980s, but Aurora and Naperville have not increased as substantially as Route 59 has since Naperville has nearly double Aurora’s ridership and fewer parking spaces. opening in 1989. Route 59 has substantially more parking spaces, but even The station’s drive alone mode share is less than half, whereas nearly absent major parking supply increases between 2002 and 2014, weekday 75 percent of Aurora Metra riders drive alone. As shown in Figure 4.10, station ridership grew by over 800 riders.14 Between 2000 and 2010, an the next largest difference between the stations is in the number of increase in multi-family residential within 1/2 mile of the Route 59 station commuters who access the train by bus (15 percent versus 2 percent) and has helped to provide more potential riders and the percentage of riders then by the number of commuters who walk to the train (9 percent versus who accessed the station by walking increased from 2 percent in 1999 to 6 2 percent). Table 4.1 summarizes weekday ridership information provided percent in 2014. Over the same period, the number of riders walking to the by Metra for those three stations. Most riders access the Aurora station by Aurora station declined from 3 percent to 2 percent. In Naperville, it has driving alone and the parking lots are heavily utilized (Table 4.2). remained at 9 percent.

14. Parking supply data and ridership data are not available for all the same years. See Figure 4.9. 15. Source: RTAMS, 2014.

42 Downtown Aurora Master Plan Existing Conditions Report To accommodate additional vehicular access to the Figure 4.9 Metra Ridership and Parking Supply station, multiple parking lots were added to the Aurora

Transportation Center over the years. The parking lots can 7000 accommodate 1,633 vehicles, with 644 dedicated permit parking spaces, 817 daily fee spaces, and 169 “swing” spaces and an additional 27 ADA-accessible spaces. Swing 6000 spaces are permit spaces that are available for a daily fee of with a “convenience permit” that does not guarantee a space. The 2014 Metra occupancy study found the daily 5000 parking spaces to be over 99 percent occupied, permit spaces to be 67 percent occupied and “swing spaces” to be 29 percent occupied. The swing spaces require 4000 crossing IL-25 and that is one likely reason why they are underutilized. 3000 Since daily spaces make up only about half of the supply, this means that there are over 300 underutilized parking spaces.16 The daily fee to park is $2, and the monthly fee 2000 is $42, and there is a three- to five- year waiting list for monthly permit spaces. This indicates that commuters unable to get a permit parking space (due to the long wait 1000 list), are taking a chance to find spots on a daily basis, and other commuters may not take the train to avoid this 0 gamble. Meanwhile, some permit holders who are not 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014

regular commuters continue to pay for the space even if Naperville Ridership Rt 59 Ridership Aurora Ridership they rarely use it. Naperville parking spaces Rt 59 parking spaces Aurora parking spaces

In 2015, Aurora was awarded $8.6 million in Congestion Source: RTAMS, 2015. Mitigation and Air Quality funding to enhance connectivity to the station. The project would include a bicycle and 16. Of all Metra commuter parking spaces, 21 percent of the spaces were not in use for the 2014 Occupancy Study, which is 344 spaces. pedestrian bridge over the river, relocating and improving the bus transfer point, and improving access to the Two Brothers Roundhouse.

Section 4: Transportation and Circulation 43 Table 4.1. Weekday Ridership and Parking (2014) Table 4.2. How commuters access the Metra stations (2014) Station Boardings Alightings Parking spaces Station Walked Drive Alone Dropped Off Carpool Bus Bike Other Aurora 2,107 1,972 1,633 Aurora 2% 74% 14% 6% 2% 0% 2% Route 59 5,874 5,363 4,245 Route 59 6% 72% 10% 4% 6% 1% 0% Naperville 4,002 4,099 1,463 Naperville 9% 47% 18% 7% 15% 3% 1% Source: RTAMS, 2015. Source: RTAMS, 2015.

Figure 4.10. Mode of Access for Metra Stations (2014).

Source: RTAMS, 2015.

44 Downtown Aurora Master Plan Existing Conditions Report Gregory Park A W INDIAN TRAIL RD )"802 U ALYCE LN R O E R D V

R A Figure 4.11 Public TransportationW OLD INDIAN TRL A L E

R L R

E E

D H O V C

A T LAKELAWN BLVD I M

M E

N L

V D

A E

S L N PARK AVE H S VE Jaycee L OAKWOOD A

A C

U E U

S R Aurora Park 533 R

)" U S

O N H

Transportation MANOR PL A R PINE AVE Center C R A ICHARD ST A MICHIGAN AVE V JUNGELS AVE E

ROBERT ST S COLORADO AVE L HANKES AVE E

A E

K V

A I2 E

L A urora AVE S HERMES

V D Pace Bus )"524 A )"533 T A Metra

P N

E SHEFFER RD

O Station Y A

V A M

A W N

D M A Illinois A

D FOREST AVE Within the downtown study area, Pace Bus operates A O "802 V N )

R L

H Avenue Park B E A SUNSET AV

Y E

L N

S T

V T

R H ZENGELE AVE GATES AVE A

five fixed bus routes, and all routes serve the N S

G EHNERTZ AVE N L I E E AVE R LAWNDAL H

E W T H

T AVE E NEW HAVEN A

E E P T

V I N

R I

Aurora Transportation Center (ATC). The ATC is a E Pigeon V

530 N

L D )" R L

I Hill Park A

N N

V L G

O “bus pulse point,” which allows for timed transfers. )"540 R

W ILLINOIS AVE I

S )"532 L All buses stop at the ATC every thirty minutes. T N EDWARDS S E Illinois V Greene McCullough A E

E Avenue None of the routes have Sunday service; the May V

N Park 533

" T

V ) Park )"532 A 533

O A

Street Island Park S

R S R W

Park E T

route serving the Fox Valley mall has the highest E M O

S T

A E

V D

D A

PIER O C ridership by far. (See Appendix for additional E CE S N T

N D

W I PLUM ST R 802

T O

L )"

G S W ridership information) T

N 532

S )" H View

Y G

A Copley

Street H M

CLA IM S Park N Park T

T E Y In October of 2015, Pace initiated a service S V A A DELIU E S AVE K W N PARK W V AVE L O W D A C A IN A restructuring for the Fox Valley area, providing new L L T H O F L V RO I N North NT ST S K N R 533 E C ED E " A ) R ST B C T Wilder S ST River A and reconfigured routes and introducing Call-n- S U N L Park T U N Street Park G B RO S T V R E Aurora ST S N T

E S O

Ride service to the ATC area. The new Fox Valley H Transportation

S H

R Center C N F E E Aurora DoLwA ntown Study Area A 530 G F network extends service to new destinations that E V )" G W F A G S I2 B ALEN T A BLVD Aurora Municipal Limits E J R W Aurora T

E N S have developed near Aurora’s eastern and northern 533 T E " Unincorporated Areas ) W Metra N S T T Y

O O A S 530 Station I S W R " ) D Parking Lots C OW K boundaries. Pace has improved service frequency T Y NER S See inset N CO N PL LU S W M A S T GAR P U BIA ST F E A IEL R D AV L E I Open Space E M I N L L G N A 530 V S )" S S T

S A I 533 L 524 " S 802 ) C on most routes to every 30 minutes, with evening L )" Wate)"r AIM S N 54T 0 T )"S H A E RDIN H T AVE T Miles CO V S LL 4 T E GE A A N VE service running until at least 8pm on weekdays. 0 0.25 0.5 H S T D E KE V Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning, 2015. 4 T NSIN N A GT T 802 N O O A " K N ) T PL E S O ANE S L L T R S D R G E H D E N A E I V G IV I L M T A E R T H A S S S T T S T McCarty S R SP S R E ING S A T N E T Park )"530 A

N W E NEW )"524 S T YOR T S K ST S H T E 4 T E K S G A S ALE T NA L BLV S C O D LA O R R K NO S PRAIRIE ST R ST TH E DOWNER A PL VE )"540 T C E E V K BENTO A 2 N ST N R N T L D A S P W S L A T L C T R D Y 2ND AVE

E T O E A I

V S O A W V

Pace BWus Routes D E E D T L A B NOR T 3 O S P TH AVE E R O A

O V

D R E T T ST W B L N A S 524, West Aurora Circulator E L S A E A T

S S T

R S O S V S

A G A A

R L T 4TH AVE E N T R S L S HOY S E LE S S A

530, West Galena-Westfield-Naperville O VE N T C C N

S O S O N

UT I N H I AVE O Aurora Downtown Study Area E

L H N S P GEORGE AVE T S K U

5 S

C 532, Illinois Avenue T W S E T ST S ON A Unincorporated Areas AV S E S J

N R BL 5TH AVE T O S A O A U EMINA N T F R T Y S Parking Lots A L H 533, Northeast Aurora V M F E M B S T S T O N C T T S N A I E S A T H P A W V G O E MARI S Open Space O N N A H 540, Farnsworth Avenue VE T E A A S South River T S T I B V T T M I B S S S A VE S R A L GLE S 6T ZIE Street Park H Water AV E E D D H E A N A N T T M T R E Z R APLE E O AV A 802, Aurora - Geneva via Lake O A V T E L O A N Section 4: Transportation and Circulation S T G 45 Miles A E V C X A R E Y N E E B A 0 0.25 0.5 O I2 IV S E F LIND L 7 C E T Metra RL oute 25 Station A N AVE H AVE O L Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning, 2015. Driving & Parking

Many streets in downtown Aurora have recently undergone a significant Street Connectivity and Access makeover. Nearly half a century ago, the trend to prioritize rapid Connectivity measures how easily residents, workers, and visitors can take automobile travel through downtown areas resulted in many wide, one- full advantage of services, public spaces, and transportation options within way arterial streets. Recent studies have found that multi-lane one- Aurora. Connectivity is often measured by intersection density because way streets encourage speeding, create more dangerous conditions for this metric is most closely correlated with levels of walking, bicycling, pedestrians and people on bikes, and can reduce the productivity of a and transit use. Areas with short blocks and frequent intersections can street in terms of overall tax revenue.14 The process to restore two-way also relieve traffic congestion on major arterials due to the varying route directional travel has already been completed for Benton Street, Downer options to a given destination, resulting in shorter, more direct trips. Place, and River Street, as well as for portions of New York Street and Galena Boulevard, east of Broadway. While two-way streets are considered To access downtown Aurora, people driving from outside of the City can an improvement for the neighborhood, this change may be unpleasant for utilize several of the arterials and local streets that feed into the area from people who are used to speeding through the neighborhood, and may have Broadway (Route 25) and Lake Street (Route 31). The limited signage to some negative impacts on parking. direct travelers to Downtown Aurora along the arterials is easy to miss.

In the recent past, all four streets connecting east and west sides of downtown Aurora across Stolp Island were one-way streets. Benton Avenue was the first of the four streets to be converted back to a two-way street (completed in 2012), with Downer Place and River Street following. Galena and New York Street have also been converted back to two- way streets east of Broadway and City staff is assessing the possibility of converting them both to two-way streets between Lake Street and Broadway across the island. One challenge to converting these sections to two-way is that certain infrastructure has been built up around the one- way operations, including the parking garage on the NE corner of Galena and River and the Casino parking deck on New York Street.

14. Badger, Emily. “Why One-way streets are bad for everyone but speeding cars.” Washington Post, 17 April 2015. Accessed January 2016: https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2015/04/17/why-one-way-streets- really-are-the-worst/

46 Downtown Aurora Master Plan Existing Conditions Report Jaycee Park

A Figure 4.12. Roadway Jurisdiction and classification U R

A V

E E V A D N

A ER RD L SHEFF H Illinois G I FOREST AVE H Avenue

N Park

Pigeon Functional Classification and Hill Park Thoroughfare Type W ILLINOIS AVE Illinois McCullough Avenue May Park Thoroughfares perform three vital roles in a Street Island Park Park

community – the space for mobility, commerce and N

civic life. Streets vary on how much of each role E

S they provide based on their design. The functional T View classification of a road describes the character of the Street Copley Park Park

road in terms of vehicular mobility. The following is Y A

D a breakdown of roadways by functional classification A O North River R based on IDOT’s classifications (Figure 4.12). Wilder B Park Street Park N

Arterials: Arterials roadways crisscross the «¬31

downtown study area. Arterials are designed for W GALE I2 NA BLVD Aurora W N Metra EW higher speed travel and to accommodate longer Y Station OR K distance trips. Creating a walkable neighborhood ST «¬25 based on a grid of arterials is a major challenge for

the downtown. The two north-south arterials are V A «¬31

N state roads (IL-31 and IL-25). East-west arterials A T L S H R G E I IV include Illinois Avenue, New York Street, and Galena H R S S McCarty Boulevard. Park G A L E S T E N T E EW Y S BE ORK Collectors: There are no collector streets in the E N ST K TO T A N S L S T S T O E downtown study area. The function of these streets is O GAL R ENA BLV S D to distribute traffic from arterials to the local streets. PRAIRIE ST

Local Roads: The remaining roads in Downtown Aurora are known as local streets and their central Y A W mobility role is to provide access to private property. D A O R B Roads Responsibility The travel speeds and traffic volumes are low and S

S Aurora Downtown Study Area mostly consist of one moving lane in each direction. Jurisdictional/Maintenance H T

5 IDOT Collector Open Space Water Municipality Arterial Signalized Intersection Parking Lots I Local Street Miles 0 0.175 0.35 South River Section 4: Transportation and Circulation Street Park Source: Illinois Roadway Information System, 2014. Chicago Metropolita47n Agency for Planning, 2015.

i T R S UM PL Parking Lots ST

S Figure 4.13. Parking locations and restrictions within Downtown M x IA ILL W

Public Lots o F Commuter Lots ST TY ER Gold (2 HR) LIB Parking

Silver (3 HR) Aurora According to the 2008 Walker Parking Study, there North River Metra Street Park Station Mercury (10 HR) N are 4,210 parking spaces in the central area of

I2 B

R O downtown Aurora (bounded on the north by Spring Bronze (6 HR) A P D A W L A VE Wilder A Street, on the west by Lake Street, on the south C K A Y E OtherAR Park T

P S S W T

R by Clark and Benton Streets, and on the east by E

E V

I A

On-street time limits Lincoln Avenue) with 2,533 available to the general VINE ST N

L O

90 minutes C public and 1,677 privately owned spaces. Of those, N

T there are approximately 650 spaces on-street and

2 hours S

T the rest are in parking lots or garages. A 2013 count

3 hoCuErs DAR S R T N E of off-street parking spaces found over 3,000 public

I 5 E hours

V W

A off-street parking spaces.

A AuroO ra Downtown Study Area G The 2008 study also found that the peak parking R SP A BuildingsRUCE ST SPRING N ST D occupancy was 56% on weekdays and 33% on A T V Open Space S E

L Saturday evenings, indicating an excess supply of Water I L A PINNE S Y ST A parking, with an imbalance in the location of high L Miles

N 0 0.05 0.1 W NEW YORK ST demand parking areas. Of the 28 blocks surveyed, «¬25 Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning, 2015. E NE «¬31 W YORK ST the central area south of Galena had the highest occupancy rates, but few reached the desired15 level of 85% occupied. A number of changes to downtown W GALENA BLVD have occurred since the 2008 study was conducted E

V A E GALENA BL P VD that would impact the current conditions. In 2013, L

L S P the parking meters were removed and enforcement N T Y S O

L transitioned to time restrictions. In 2011, Waubonsee H O L R P C NE U OW S D Community College relocated to a new building on T W

S T the West bank of the Fox River. Also in 2011, the

E E DOWNER «¬31 V PL A Broadway Series debuted at the Paramount. Other

O T events and business openings or closings would

T have an impact on parking conditions, but these S

T E

Y S T W BENTON ST A three are likely to have had the biggest impact on A R

E W

D V

I S A E E BENTON V R ST the downtown study area. D A O L S R FIE B AR T G S S E E V E K A V A A L E L N S D W D A I 15. Occupancy rates of about 85 percent are desirable because it means that L M

D T

O S most spaces are full with about one space per block, or one of every seven spaces, CLA V R RK ST O A E

D W L available. For more information, see CMAP’s “Parking Strategies to Support N

L L

A A

I O Livable Communities” report: http://1.usa.gov/CMAP_Parking. S

R C A

L N

I S

L S U F CR D S R OS N AZI S S I ER T CT 48 Downtown Aurora Master Plan Existing Conditions ReportE J

B With the meter removal, Aurora unveiled a hierarchical parking system, Overall, the transition to free parking was well-received by the public but with parking lots and streets color-coded according to associated time there have been some complaints about the new system. The myriad of limit. This system is supposed to encourage long-term parkers to park in color-coded signs is confusing to visitors; congested areas remain full garages, or further from the core. Permits for the more centrally-located, while nearby parking is underutilized; some businesses have customers more desirable lots cost more money and permit holders of higher ranks who need to park for longer durations. People want to park where they may park in any lower rank lot. Annual overnight residential permits don’t have to walk much, regardless of how long they are staying, and are available, and drivers can call in if they need to leave their vehicle they tend to avoid going to garages unless they are motivated by financial overnight. Enforcement hours are from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Monday incentives. Heavily congested areas (like New York Street and Galena) through Friday and 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. on Saturday on public streets would be better served by demand-based parking pricing than by time and alleys, and from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday in limits. As Aurora has discovered, when it comes to parking, you can never City-owned parking facilities. The City code does not allow parking meters please everyone all the time. People want a parking space directly in front to be installed. The City uses license plate recognition (LPR) enforcement of their destination, and they don’t want to pay for it. A parking problem technology, making enforcement of complicated time limits easier to is a good thing to have; it means people are coming to the downtown. manage. They also use an increasing scale of ticket fines to target repeat A more recent parking occupancy study has not been conducted, but offenders. Tickets may be issued to a driver exceeding the time limit if anecdotal evidence suggests that there is still an excess of supply with an they re-park on the same block, unless they vacate the block for one hour imbalance in the distribution of that supply, particularly around Restaurant or more. Row and Waubonsee Community College.

Section 4: Transportation and Circulation 49 Freight

Industrial uses in Downtown Aurora are primarily located along Routes 25 and 31, with trucks using major arterials in the study area. The Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway (BNSF), a Class I railway, operates the freight rail line in the City. There are roughly 150 freight trains passing through Downtown Aurora each day, but the grade-separated lines mean that freight trains do not have a significant impact on traffic in the study area. Local residents have expressed concerns regarding the safety of materials transported along the freight lines.

There are no state- or locally-designated truck routes in the study area. To the south of the study area, there is a sizable amount of freight truck traffic along the border with Montgomery. To prevent truck traffic from funneling north into the downtown area, it may be worth pursuing a designated truck route on Route 31 south of Copley Park, to connect with Montgomery Class II truck routes and US Route 30.

50 Downtown Aurora Master Plan Existing Conditions Report Transportation Indicators Table 4.4. Mode Share, as Percentage of Work Trips, 2010 Downtown The following tables summarize how Aurora compares with the rest of Aurora Kane County Chicago Region study area the Chicago region on a number of important transportation metrics that Total Commuters 1,460 91,951 240,006 3,930,414 give insight on how residents are moving around and how much they are Drive Alone 65.7% 77.7% 80.5% 69.4% spending on transportation. Table 4.3 shows that the number of miles driven annually by Aurora households (VMT) is more than the VMT for Carpool 20.0% 10.1% 9.0% 8.9% the rest of the region and slightly less than the VMT for Kane County. Transit 3.5% 5.1% 2.7% 12.5% Aurora households in the downtown core area are driving fewer miles per Walk 6.4% 0.9% 1.4% 3.2% household than the rest of the City, and fewer than the region as a whole. Other 4.4% 6.2% 6.5% 5.9% This household VMT number is likely skewed low because of the high Note: Mode shares are expressed as percentages of the working population that did not work from home. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2010 American Community Survey 1-Year Estimates (for county and region figures); density of elderly adults, most of whom are no longer traveling for work. 2009 - 2013 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates (for municipal and study area figures).

Mode share indicates what percentage of trips taken using a specific type of transportation, such as driving alone or transit. The vast majority of Aurora residents drive alone for work trips. A higher proportion of study area residents carpool or walk their way to work than the rest of the region, see Table 4.4. The high carpool rate could indicate demand for transit that is not currently being met with existing options.

Table 4.3. Total Annual Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT) per Household, 2005-2009

Comparable communities Chicago Downtown Kane Aurora, IL Elgin, IL Rockford, IL Naperville, IL Joliet, IL Region core County (MSA) 16,596 21,025 22,762 20,767 20,327 21,316 22,127 18,440 Source: Center for Neighborhood Technology, calculated for Municipal Energy Profiles, available at “H+T Affordability Index” website: http://htaindex.cnt.org/fact-sheets/

Section 4: Transportation and Circulation 51 Section 5 BUILT ENVIRONMENT Overview

Stakeholder interview comments related to the The following section describes the existing built environment in downtown Aurora, built environment:* focusing on its urban design, housing, land use, and zoning. This section also Maintaining and preserving historic structures and landmarks is an important way to maintain provides an overview of Aurora’s historic preservation initiatives and significant the downtown’s character and can be a potential economic development source. infrastructure. To create effective recommendations, a solid understanding of the Some downtown building owners are waiting for a better market to do anything with their area’s physical characteristics is necessary. The information in this section has been property, while their buildings deteriorate. The first floor commercial requirement makes obtained from the U.S. Census Bureau, the City of Aurora, and a visual assessment of new residential construction financially difficult to justify. the community undertaken by the project team. The City does an excellent job with infrastructure- water, bridges, streets, etc. Increased housing options and density near the Roundhouse is desired. Key Findings Demand for housing in the core is increasing. *These statements represent common perceptions from local stakeholders and may not represent • Significant recent housing construction in Aurora • The combined cost of housing and transportation, as a factual conditions or the opinions of all who were interviewed. has been taking place outside the downtown area. percent of household income in the downtown Aurora Nearly one fifth of the City’s housing stock has been study area, is affordable. The Center for Neighborhood constructed between 2000 and 2013, while only 85 Technology’s (CNT) Housing and Transportation housing units have been built in the downtown study Affordability Index shows that the average percent of area during the same time period. household income spent on housing and transportation • The downtown study area has a high housing vacancy is 40%. This is lower than CNT’s standard of rate compared to the rest of the City. In 2013, Aurora’s affordability, which is 45%. Also, the index suggests vacancy rate was 7.7%, while the downtown study that downtown Aurora is more affordable than Kane area’s was approximately 20%. County and the region. • There is a concentration of vacant land along the east • Downtown Aurora’s housing stock is older and smaller bank of the Fox River south of the downtown core. compared to the rest of the City. 58% of the downtown The 2008 housing market collapse halted potential housing stock was built before World War II and development of these lands. 52% of downtown dwelling units are studios or one bedrooms. (key findings continue on next page)

Section 5: Built Environment 53 Key Findings (continued) Urban design and identity

• Downtown zoning districts aim to create a pedestrian-friendly This section reviews the physical characteristics of the spaces between environment and encourage access to the Fox River. The Aurora Zoning the buildings and the streets –the urban design of Downtown Aurora. Ordinance emphasizes pedestrian comfort and walkability in the It explores the identity and image of the downtown district through a downtown and provides standards to ensure new developments maintain closer study of key buildings, an analysis of the streetscapes, and of other pedestrian access and incorporate potential views of the Fox River. noteworthy spaces such as the Fox River riverfront and the BNSF station. • Downtown Aurora has a high number of historic buildings and landmarks Information discussed from this section comes from the Aurora Historical which are maintained through various historic preservation initiatives. Commission, City of Aurora Website, Metra, BNSF, and visual surveys Twenty historic buildings are within the Stolp Island National Register from staff site visits. Historic District, including the Paramount Theatre and the Grand Army of the Republic Memorial. • Several facades in Downtown Aurora would benefit from architectural enhancements. Some businesses in the downtown district may benefit from better lighting, signage, use of color and texture in the facades to attract visitors and to maintain favorable visual effect along business corridors. • Aurora has integrated many streetscape and signage amenities in downtown Aurora. However, many of these amenities are located in Stolp Island and signage pertinent to the business district is limited.

54 Downtown Aurora Master Plan Existing Conditions Report Architecture Streetscape The urban fabric of a community is crucial to creating a sense of place. The geometric design of streets is integral to how motorists, bicyclists, Aurora’s historic architecture and urban character is preserved in its seven pedestrians, and other street users behave on them. The width of the historic districts and protection of landmarks and older neighborhoods street, including the number of lanes and the width of those lanes, plays significant to Aurora’s history and culture. As an older postindustrial city, a large role in the feel and function of a street. The width will determine Aurora has preserved its history while reinventing itself as a culturally what design elements can fit within the given space, such as the position diverse and growing city. In the face of significant economic and cultural of vehicles, on-street parking, landscaped medians, and bicycle lanes. In shifts, Aurora has maintained an identity independent of the larger addition, the overall width of the street affects the building height-to- Chicago metropolitan region. width ratio, which is a way to measure the spatial definition or sense of enclosure that is an important component of urban thoroughfares. The In the downtown area, there are several historic buildings representing a Institute of Transportation Engineers recognizes that wide streets, such range of architectural styles from Art Deco to Prairie School. Throughout as those greater than 60 feet, can create barriers for pedestrians and the downtown core, the average building height is three stories; there are encourage higher vehicular speeds.16 Higher operating speeds result in many red-brick and terra cotta facades that create a dense and walkable higher automobile crash rates and property damage. built environment. Several commercial buildings were designed by the architect George Grant Elmslie and reflect elements of the Prairie School Existing building height in the downtown area varies from 1-21 stories, architectural style, which emphasizes horizontal features and ornate with an average of three stories. The FoxWalk Overlay District Design decorations. The Keystone Building on Stolp Island is an example of this Guidelines states that buildings should occupy the entire width of the style. Newer buildings in the study area include the downtown Aurora parcel along a street, height-to-width proportions should be consistent campus of Waubonsee Community College, the Santorini Public Library, with other buildings on the block, be at least two stories high and a and the Hollywood Casino. maximum of one story above tallest building on the block.

The City of Aurora offers a number of self-guided tours on their website, including the Stolp Island Historic District Tour, LaSalle Street Auto Row Historic District, and the general self-guided Driving Tour. Each tour has information about the buildings, year built, and a small map. The tours offer a huge amount of information about the area’s rich architectural history.

16. Institute of Transportation Engineers. “Traveled Way Design Guidelines.” Chapter 9. http://www.ite.org/css/ online/DWUT09.html (Accessed February 2016).

Section 5: Built Environment 55 Wayfinding and signage Having attractive wayfinding, signage, and streetscape amenities is important for enhancing circulation and making pedestrians feel safe and welcome. The 2006 Seize the Future plan sought to develop a lively, human-scaled, easy-to-access central area, so as to attract new residents and workers to downtown Aurora and entice visitors to return. To that end, the plan recommended streetscape enhancements, including upgraded wayfinding and signage programs that clearly communicate to visitors that they have arrived in downtown, particularly along Broadway Street, River Street, and related lateral streets. The City has already accomplished many recommendations that were either specifically stated or implied in past strategies and continues to actively promote a user-friendly downtown. Streetscape improvements already accomplished include the integration of street furniture, such as benches, bicycle racks, bollards, decorative lightings, FoxWalk railings, hanging floral baskets, kiosks, litter receptacles, newsracks, street planters, tree grates, and wayfinding and destination signage.

While many streetscape and signage amenities have been accomplished in the core center of Aurora’s downtown, signage pertinent to the business district is limited. This makes it difficult to direct visitors to the area, specifically those coming from the surrounding thoroughfares of Lake Street, Broadway, Galena Boulevard, New York Street, and Illinois Avenue. Although the Metra Station is centrally located in the business district, no signs are available to offer information about the existing commercial establishments. While there are numerous plaques for the “Downtown Heritage Tour,” these plaques offer limited information; there is no map of other sites, no website with additional information, and no directions to other sites. A paper pamphlet can guide visitors on this tour, if they know to pick up the pamphlet.

56 Downtown Aurora Master Plan Existing Conditions Report Marketing and branding In addition to the physical elements that create a sense of place, branding Line drawings of iconic downtown buildings, created by local artist David J. and marketing play a crucial role in distinguishing a community from Merk, were reproduced in the form of commemorative posters and are given its neighbors and identifying it to the greater region. The 2006 Seize annually to winners of the Mayor’s Awards for Excellence in Downtown the Future Master Plan recommended the creation of a neighborhood Property Improvements. These same drawings were reproduced in trading branding program to strengthen and expand business recruitment and cards and used in an educational program targeted at third-grade students retention efforts. The Aurora ’98: A Strategic Plan for the Development and as part of their Community Studies curriculum; the students were guided Management of Downtown called on walking tours of downtown Aurora. for marketing Downtown through advertising, promotion, public The City also works with a number of relations and other activities. The local partner organizations to actively FoxWalk Overlay District Design promote art and cultural events. One Guidelines – Regulations and organization is Aurora Downtown, Procedures aims to honor Aurora’s an organization of property owners, downtown by creating programs created as a Special Service Area that raise awareness of Aurora’s rich that actively markets the downtown historic architectural roots. through a number of initiatives designed to create awareness among The City has executed a number local residents and promote the of policies and programs to market downtown to the region. These events the downtown. One of them is the attract visitors and sponsors from Downtown Heritage Tour where throughout the western suburbs and thirty porcelain enamel signs the region. Some of these events mounted on decorative cast iron include: Downtown Alive! Festival poles delineate a self-guided tour of Series at RiverEdge Park, Downtown downtown’s architecture and history. Taste of Aurora, Aurora Artwalk, Included are markers for significant Dia de los Niños, Alley Art Festival, buildings that have been demolished. Louche Puce Market, Downtown The Downtown Architecture Poster Aurora Arts Mixer (DAAM!), Aurora and Trading Cards is another Farmers Market, Winter Lights example of how the City has Holiday Walk, Fiestas Patrias music promoted its downtown to residents festival, and the Puerto Rican Heritage and local youth. Festival.

Section 5: Built Environment 57 Housing

Housing Stock The City of Aurora contains a variety of housing types and architectural Most recent housing construction in Aurora has taken place outside of styles. There are 66,827 housing units within the City of Aurora and the downtown study area, with only 85 new units built in the study area approximately 60 percent are single family homes. In the downtown study between 2000 and 2013 (compared to over 12,000 units citywide). Most area, the housing stock includes more apartment and condominium housing of the new additions to the downtown housing supply occurred with the options, with nearly half consisting of multifamily buildings over five units opening of a new condominium complex at Benton and River Streets (see Appendix: Housing Data Table 5.1). The architectural styles range from along the Fox River in 2008. In the downtown study area, 57.6 percent of early Vernacular to Victorian era revivals to modern homes. Most Victorian the housing stock was built before 1940 compared to around 20 percent era homes were built between 1860 and 1900. Later home builders adopted citywide. The downtown study area also contains a higher concentration of other styles such as Queen Anne, Stick, and Shingle. In the 1920s, homes studios and one bedrooms compared to the rest of the City and the region. were designed in the New Prairie style by Eugene Malmer and Frank Lloyd Wright. Since 1950, many modern style homes have been built in Aurora.17 A In the downtown, over 50 percent of housing units are studios and one 2006 Homes for a Changing Region report recommended new housing near bedroom units. Downtown Aurora has a vacancy rate of approximately 21 the Roundhouse and Aurora Metra station, higher-density housing appealing percent, which is significantly higher than the City of Aurora (7.7 percent), to a range of income levels (including luxury), mixed-use developments, Kane County (6.5 percent) and the region (9.5 percent). There are 1,383 historic preservation to create and retain housing options, and suggestions occupied housing units in downtown Aurora and approximately 69 percent for achieving those goals. are renter occupied. In downtown Aurora, housing values are lower than the City as a whole. 60.9 percent of the downtown housing stock is valued at less than $150,000, compared to 34.1 percent citywide. Factors contributing to lower housing values include an older housing stock and smaller housing size. These factors could make the properties good candidates for adaptive re-use strategies.

17. City of Aurora, Historic Preservation Guidelines, 2006, p. 33.

58 Downtown Aurora Master Plan Existing Conditions Report Housing and Transportation (H+T) Affordability Index The Center for Neighborhood Technology (CNT) created the Housing and Transportation (H+T) Affordability Index to better understand the transportation and housing costs across the United States. According to CNT, an affordable location is a place where a household spends no more than 45% of household income on both housing and transportation costs.

The typical Aurora household spends over 50% of area median income on housing and transportation, which is higher than CNT’s 45% standard and is considered unaffordable. Downtown Aurora is affordable, with an H+T index of just 40%. In comparison, the typical household in the Chicago region spends 53% of income on housing and transportation. Housing costs are also affordable as a portion of income in downtown Aurora, with housing costs taking up only 21% of household income. This data suggests that Aurora and the downtown are more affordable than other places in the Chicago region.

Section 5: Built Environment 59 Figure 5.1 DowntownCALIF OAuroraRNIA AVE Existing Land Use

A U Residential R FLORIDA AVE O R Single Family Detached A

E A

V V FOREST AVE A Single Family Attached E

D SUNSET AVE N

Multi-Family O E

M ZENGELE AVE Land Use T V

O M

A S

R Common Open Space in Residential DeveA lopment LAWNDALE AVE E

H C NEW HAVEN AVE R T

H E T

A V I Commercial E R L

R The Downtown Aurora study area is approximately

D L I

V N

A G

Urban Mix V

N E 652 acres with most of the land devoted to

Urban Mix with Residential Component O

I transportation, commercial, and institutional uses

Cultural/Entertainment W ILLINOIS AVE L Hotel/Motel N (Figure 5.1). The following section describes each Office E type of land use in the downtown study area.

V T A

E S

RURAL ST V D

Industrial E A N

C A

A A L

E T L

General Industrial <100,000 sq ft W H

V S A O

A G

I P T I Residential

E O

H A

V Institutional N O E

N N

S PIERC R V A E S L T

V A A N

Government Administration and Services N E K

K Residential uses are primarily located outside the

A D E A

R I

S O

Post-Secondary Educational Facilities N G

T W

N downtown core. Most neighborhoods in these areas E

Religious Facilities P

T T

S S

consist of single family homes. In the downtown

Medical Facilities Y

A WILLIAMS ST

M r

Cemeteries V

N core, which is Stolp Island and the east and e

Other Institutional v i west banks of the Fox River, small multifamily

T R

S W Open Space PARK AVE

K C x apartment buildings, condominiums, and lofts are H W ARLES S Open Space, PrimTarily Recreation A o Y H A

K V F IN W more prevalent. There is a concentration of multi- C CED E Open Space, Primarily Conservation T A R ST D A S S T A L G T RO T O V B E ST Trail or Greenway S T R U family residential uses along the west bank of the S T B N

S T R N

S U E V Transportation/Utilities/Communication E C I Fox River north of Stolp Island which includes a

H R T O SUPER L C IOR S N ST

Roadway N N H

G senior assisted living facility, a five story apartment I

Rail ROW H building, and the Plum Landing Retirement I2 E Other Linear Transportation with Associated Facilities E V W Aurora V GAL A EN A A BLV D Metra N Independent Automobile Parking Y T W L Community. E S N T O Station L EW S C T L Utility Right-of-Way Y N S A T O I T R V U L U K S T W

D C S Stormwater Management OWN N T N S E Y R PL T O

A L S

W Commercial M E Other Utility/W aste S E

I H C S LAIM V S C T

E S S

UndeV r Construction A F As shown on Figure 5.1, commercial land uses are L E LA D P V G Under Construction, Other T A G N T CO Y P S LLEGE A O L S T AVE L H H O H represented by the urban mix designation. These ARDI T H N AVE T Vacant S 4 G T I N N S H T uses are concentrated on the east and west banks Vacant Residential Land E S S P V W R O A IN O E B G R Vacant Commercial Land L EN T S N G D S TO T of the Fox River and include retail stores, offices, A ID R N LE L C E ST N M P T Vacant Industrial Land E R V E O I K W S S T S R R Y restaurants, and cafes. Retail stores are located S S O R Other Vacant T A R S S P E T K S C T R W T S E E N E T throughout the downtown and provide a variety of G E K A A A P Source: Land Use L W LE S N S S A Inventory, B N goods and services to Aurora residents. Businesses LV CMAP, 2010. D E include coffee shops, clothing boutiques, and bicycle B EN T T O S N S T T shop. Office uses in the downtown core include T O S O N C R LA AOurora Downtown Study Area NO R S S R Y K R law firms and small financial institutions. Two T A E H ST RAIRIE ST A W D P V D N E DO E A A Aurora MuWniNcEipRa Pl LLimits O Brothers Roundhouse is located next to the Aurora R T S B S S E Unincorporated Area L L E Transportation Center and contains a coffee shop, T T A V AV

A O C S S N A N S K L L T T Water R R

S E 2 O T brewpub restaurant, and music venue. The building N S A D C T S C H L T

S N S N I T C L I2 T N 4 S Metra Stations L P 2 E N T D AVE E T O

S P V S H C R S is the former roundhouse for the Chicago Burlington

A S T E H K D 5 I T S L MC etra Rail Lines O V R P A O E O J and Quincy Railroad. W T B W NORT E N T H AVE S T I S A Rail Lines 60 Downtown Aurora Master Plan Existing Conditions Report S

3 O T S R D R I R T N S G N Miles T O A C S ENTER M AVE 4TH A0VE 0.12T5 0.25 N A I

H Chicago MetropolitanW Agency for Planning, 2015. The downtown core is also home to Aurora’s arts and culture attractions, Transportation which are indicated by the culture/ entertainment land use designation on The largest transportation related land use in the study area is the Figure 5.1. The historic Paramount Theatre, Hollywood Casino, Sci Tech Aurora Transportation Center (ATC). Metra’s BNSF commuter rail service Museum, and Aurora Regional Fire Museum draw visitors from throughout terminates at the ATC, while the Burlington Northern Main Line railroad the region. Downtown Aurora is also home to several small theatres, art passes beyond and continues through the eastern portion of the study galleries, and studios. area. To improve access to downtown, the City has been changing streets Industrial from one way to two way. The most prominent change has been opening New York Street to two way traffic, facilitating travel for motorists Most of the industrial land designated for factories and manufacturing is traveling from the east side of the City. located on the east bank of the Fox River, north of Stolp Island and the Aurora Transportation Center. A forging company, general contractor, and Open Space an iron works shop are examples of industrial businesses in this area. Open space in Downtown Aurora is concentrated along the Fox River. Institutional These spaces include River Edge Park and the Fox River Trail. River Edge Park is an outdoor music venue on the east bank of the Fox River from the Aurora’s central business district contains a number of institutional uses Aurora Transportation Center. Open space surrounds the Fox River Trail, including Aurora City Hall and Waubonsee Community College. Located a regional biking and walking path that runs along both the east and west on the west bank of the Fox River, the Aurora campus of Waubonsee sides of the Fox River through the northern part of the study area. Community College is one of the busiest campuses in the community college’s system. Recently, a new 92,000 square foot public library has Parking been completed at the corner of River and Benton Streets on the west side Off street parking is located on the east and west sides of the Fox River, of the Fox River. The new library emphasizes technology and internet and and on Stolp Island. Most of these parking areas have a limited number makes these services available to populations that do not have access. The of parking hours, ranging from two to ten hours. There is a concentration old library, which is located on Stolp Island, will house a high technology of parking lots along N. River Street between Vine and Spruce Streets. On support company that is moving downtown and bringing about 100 jobs.18 Stolp Island, there are two parking decks serving patrons of the Hollywood Aurora government offices are located in Aurora City Hall as well as Casino and Sci Tech Museum. The largest amount of contiguous parking several other downtown buildings. Other institutional uses include the space in the study area surrounds the Aurora Transportation Center and Aurora Township offices, Aurora Fire Department Central Station, and the Two Brothers Roundhouse (Figure 4.11). U.S. Post Office.

There are several museums located in downtown Aurora that provide Vacant Land learning opportunities for residents. The Aurora Regional Fire Museum Vacant commercial and industrial land is concentrated in the southern preserves the history of the region’s fire department and offers educational part of the study area, along the east bank of the Fox River. This area is programming. The SciTech Museum on Stolp Island provides interactive bisected by a railroad line connecting to the Aurora Transportation Center. STEM exhibits for children, and the David L. Pierce Art and History Center is home to the Aurora Historical Society and the Aurora Public Art 18. Lord, Steve. “High tech company to relocate to downtown Aurora,” The Aurora Beacon News, November 24, Commission. 2015, Accessed November 24, 2015: http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/aurora-beacon-news/news/ct-abn- aurora-public-library-announcement-st-1124-20151124-story.html.

Section 5: Built Environment 61 CALIFORNIA AVE Figure 5.2 Downtown Aurora Zoning FLORIDA AVE

FOREST AVE E

Zoning Districts V A

SUNSET AVE

D N

E ZENGELE AVE

One Family DwellinO g District (R-1, R-2, R-3) T V

O M

A S

M LAWNDALE AVE E

C R

EW HAVEN AVE A T N

Two Family Dwelling District (R-4, R-4A) E H T Zoning

V I E

L R

D L I

V N

Multiple Family Dwelling District (R-5) A

A G

N E

General Residence District (R-5A) O

C The Aurora Zoning Ordinance is Appendix A of E N

I V

W ILLINOIS AVE L A

Business District - Local Retail (B-1) N the Aurora Municipal Code and regulates the use A

R EDWARDS ST

Business District -General Retail (B-2) R and character of buildings constructed throughout

U E

V T A

E S

RURAL ST V D the City. Last updated in October 2015, the zoning Business & Wholesale District (B-3) E A N

C A

A A L

E T L W H

V S A ordinance divides the City into four categories: (1)

Neighborhood CommerciaO l (NC)

A G

I P T I

E O

H A

V O E

N N

A S Open Space, Park and Recreation, (2) Residential, R V Downtown Fringe (DF) A

D R

V A N A

K K

A E

S L (3) Business, and (4) Manufacturing. The ordinance

R I

Downtown Core (DC) O

N G

W T N

T E

S P describes two open space, park and recreation

T Office (O) T H

W H

A WILLIAMS ST zoning districts, eight residential districts,

ManufacturiI ng District - Limited (M-1)

N N ten business districts, and two manufacturing Manufacturing District - General (M-2)

T districts. In the downtown study area, business S W Park/Open Space (P) PARK AVE C K H W F ARLES S RONT S T A T and manufacturing zoning districts are the most Y H Open Space and Recreation District (OS-2) A K V IN W C CEDA E T R ST D A S S common. T A L T G T O R B OVE S T ST U R

T S B N

S T R N

T S U E

V S E C I

H R O N The ordinance describes ten different business SU L P C E N R O IOR ST N S N

E zoning districts including the Downtown Core

I2 E J E (DC) and Downtown Fringe (DF) districts which V Aurora V W A GA A LENA BLV Metra N D Y T W L E cover the central area of downtown (See Appendix: S N T O Station L EW S C T L Y S N A T O I T R V C U L O U K LU S MB Zoning). The DC district encompasses Stolp Island T I A C S N T N ST S Y T O

A S L

M E S E and neighboring areas on the east and west sides I H S C V LA C IM

S S F of the Fox River. This zoning district contains L E LA P V G T A G Y T S CO O P S T LLEGE H L AVE many of Aurora’s government and office buildings. HA O H RDIN T T AVE S 4 T N N S The regulations for this district are intended to T E V W O A O B SP E E R R L T N I encourage pedestrian activity and recreation in G D S TO N N A D N G F C I R L S ULTO L E ST P N R M T T ST E V E O I K S S N the central business district and by the Fox River. T T S R R E S S S R T A W E S S P E K T Y O C LA R W R E K N Just outside of that is the DF zoning district, which S T S E A T E P W G S S AL EN N regulates land on the east and west banks of the Fox A BL VD River in the downtown core but not Stolp Island.

T S According to the ordinance, “the purpose of the T T O S O N C R N LA O O R S S downtown fringe district is to promote economic R Y K R T A E H ST P A W D RAI V D N R E A A E DOWNER development by allowing a maximum of uses to IE O PL S R S T B S T be permitted near the center of the City consistent S AV T E BE E E O C NTON ST L V N L A ST K T A R Aurora Downtown Study ArS ea with protection of residential uses, enhancement S N 2 L T A N T A S L N D L O T S L O S C S C H I T S P T T N T T I Aurora M2uNnDic AiVpEal Limits N N of the area’s image and physical appearance, 4 S C L R

E U O S E V H S H I A T S S T V K D R 5 Unincorporated Area E C maintenance of circulation, safety, and the assurance O O B O A W NORTH J AVE W S L I E 19 T P WT ater I 3 S T T S of compatibility with surroundings.” R T

D O S R N ST N A N

O 62 Downtown Aurora Master Plan Existing ConditionsR Report A Miles G S M

0 0.12N 5 0.25 A 4T I H AVE

H Chicago MW etropolitan Agency for Planning, 2015. In 1993, the City of Aurora created the Fox Walk Overlay District which Fox Metro treats wastewater from Aurora, North Aurora, Boulder Hill, covers land within the Downtown Core and Downtown Fringe zoning Montgomery, Oswego, Sugar Grove and portions of Yorkville and Batavia. districts. The Fox Walk Overlay District’s purpose is to provide a clear Fox Metro has the capacity to treat up to forty-two million gallons of design and development concept to guide the revitalization of downtown wastewater per day. Each year, they treat and safely return over 10 billion Aurora and the area along the Fox River. Administration of the district gallons of water to the Fox River. The City has invested in a number of is the responsibility of a Design Review Committee (DRC), which strategies to reduce the number and severity of CSOs through the use performs functions similar to a plan commission. The DRC reviews new of green infrastructure (bioswales, bioinfiltration, biofiltration, and rain development proposals and approves any changes to existing buildings. gardens). In 2008, the City revised a set of guidelines for the district, called the FoxWalk Overlay District Design Guidelines Regulations and Procedures. Water Supply The guidelines provide zoning classification information and principles to The main source of water for the City of Aurora is the Fox River. direct development in the district, which generally relate to preserving the Additionally, some water is pumped from both deep and shallow wells. area’s historic character, promoting walkability, and maximizing access to The blend is typically about 60 percent surface water and 40 percent well the Fox River. water. The water is treated at the Aurora Water Treatment Plant, just outside of the study area off of IL-25, south of E. Indian Trail. Aurora is Infrastructure required by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) to produce an annual water quality report by the Safe Drinking Water Act. Wastewater The latest report reveals no water violations were recorded for the City in 2013. The City of Aurora is a partner in the USEPA’s WaterSense program Like many older communities, Aurora has a combined sewer system to promote conservation and efficiency. that collects both sanitary sewage and stormwater runoff and is gravity drained. Of the City’s 46 square miles, approximately 11 square miles Fiber Optic Cable system are served by combined sewers (including most of the downtown study area). Under normal conditions, the centuries-old sewer system is able Downtown Aurora has a network of fiber optic cable, called OnLight to adequately handle the wastewater and send it to the Fox Metro Water Aurora. Voice and data ride this fiber network through pulses of light, Reclamation District (Fox Metro). Problems occur during significant allowing for high speed data transmission and very high bandwidth. In storm events with heavy rainfall. When the rain and wastewater exceed the US, the average broadband connection speed is 8.6 megabits per the capacity of the pipes, the excess combined sewage and rainwater can second (Mbps). OnLight Aurora’s fiber optic system provides 1 Gigabit, either flood residents’ basements or overflow into the Fox River, adding or 1000 Mbps, and the City has plans to expand that to 10 Gigabits. The hazardous contamination (combined sewage overflows, or CSOs). Since underground network is designed with self-healing rings so that if a fiber adoption of the long-term control plan, the City has experienced fewer is cut, the data can re-route itself and continue traveling and reduce flooded basements and CSO events than in past years. opportunities for failure. Fast and reliable internet is an attractive feature for many businesses. 19. The City of Aurora Zoning Ordinance, 2015, pp. 175-181.

Section 5: Built Environment 63 Historic preservation

Aurora has implemented a number of historic preservation initiatives Each year The APC honors properties nominated for excellence in historic designed to protect historic properties and preserve the character of restoration with the Mayor’s Awards for Historic Preservation. The awards neighborhoods. Chapter 37 of the Aurora Municipal Code describes recognize owners who make significant improvements while maintaining standards and procedures for historic preservation and establishes the the historic character of a building. Aurora Preservation Commission (APC). Established in 1979, the Aurora Preservation Commission works to preserve properties that reflect the Aurora is home to a total of seven historic districts, including three historical, cultural, artistic, social, and ethnic heritage of Aurora. Nationally Registered Historic Districts. In the downtown core, Stolp Island has been designated as a National Register Historic District The eleven member commission is responsible for: because of the Island’s importance to Aurora’s history and the number of historically significant properties. In the middle of the 19th century, Stolp • Identifying buildings, landmarks, and districts that are significant to Island was critical to Aurora’s industrial development because its location Aurora’s history, ADDarchitectural PHOTO character, and culture, provided excellent access to the water, which served as a power source for • Reviewing and enforcing the City’s standards for exterior changes to factories, mills, and manufacturing shops. Currently, the island is home historic buildings, to twenty historic buildings, including the Leland Tower, the Paramount Theatre, and the Grand Army of the Republic Memorial Hall (GAR). The • Providing financial and technical assistance to property owners to support Aurora Preservation Commission provides information for a self-guided these renovations, tour that highlights historically significant buildings and places of interest, • Designating landmarks, historical districts, and urban conservation see Appendix: Historic Preservation. LaSalle Street Auto Row is also a districts, Nationally Designated Historic District. Additionally, there are several • Maintaining a register of all designated properties, historic properties representing a range of architecture styles including Art Deco and Prairie School. Downtown Aurora is home to one of the only • Doing design review for owners of historic properties, and providing examples of the Mayan Revival architectural style in the country. rehabilitation resources, • Issuing, modifying or denying certificates of appropriateness and The City of Aurora has also designated four local historic districts, economic hardship, separate from the National Register, which are located within or near • Adopting rules and regulations – including guidelines for historic the downtown study area. Within these districts, there is a variety of properties in Aurora. architectural styles such as Victorian, Prairie, and Queen Anne. The City has identified 28 individual historic landmarks which are located throughout the City. These landmarks include homes, churches, mansions, and the former CB & Q Roundhouse. In 2006, the City published the Historic Districts and Landmarks Guidelines to provide rules, procedures, and assistance to property owners in order to preserve and enhance the historic character of these neighborhoods and individual landmarks.

64 Document Title Goes Here Located on Stolp Island, the GAR is a memorial to Civil War Veterans. Aurora has benefited from the Federal Historic Tax Credit and the River The memorial was completed in 1878 and is included on the National Edge Redevelopment Zone program. The River Edge program is a state Register of Historic Places. It is one of the last remaining Grand Army of program designed to encourage rehabilitation of historic properties in the Republic memorials in the United States. Because of the memorial’s several older Illinois cities with downtown riverfronts. It provides a 25% potential to increase local tourism, the City received funding from the tax credit towards a developer’s cost to rehabilitate a historic property. State of Illinois in 2014 to restore the memorial. The ongoing restoration The program expires at the end of 2016. Aurora utilized the program for will improve interior features of the building, provide space for historical funding to develop the River Edge Park concert venue and the former exhibits, and include Civil War artifacts. Construction began in Fall 2014 St. Charles Hospital. The former hospital is being converted to senior and the City expects to reopen the building to visitors for the first time in apartments. Currently, developers interested in historic preservation a decade in early 2016, pending state budget allocations. consider the historic Hobbs Building in downtown Aurora a potential building for rehabilitation. Known for an onion dome on its roof, the Hobbs Building is at risk of not being rehabilitated unless the tax credit program is extended. According to Landmarks Illinois, a historic preservation advocacy organization, extending the tax credit program will generate economic growth, create jobs, and strengthen the City’s tax base.20 20. Landmark Illinois, “River Edge Historic Tax Credit Extension Bill,” Accessed October 3, 2015: http://www. landmarks.org/pdfs/REHTC-Fact%20Sheet-%203-10-2015.pdf.

Section 5: Built Environment 65 Section 6 ECONOMY AND JOBS

Photo by Flickr user dougtone Overview

Stakeholder interview comments related to This section reviews the economic conditions in Downtown Aurora. As has been economic development:* reported over recent decades, downtown Aurora has good development potential Groceries, restaurants, and night life desired. There is a need for another hotel, ideally part of if it can overcome the challenges of high retail competition, the need for different the casino. types of space, and not enough people with strong purchasing power living in close There is a need for convention space. Efforts to attract big businesses to Aurora seem proximity. The findings are based on a review of past Aurora plans and documents, to take precedent over supporting existing small businesses downtown. site inspections, review of interviews conducted by CMAP, additional data gathering Much of the available retail space does not and analysis, and interviews with identified stakeholders. meet the needs of what retailers are looking for. While Hollywood Casino and Waubonsee Community College draw people to the downtown, their visitors rarely patronize other local businesses. *These statements represent common perceptions Key Findings from local stakeholders and may not represent factual conditions or the opinions of all who were interviewed. • Private sector jobs have declined. There was a 10.2 • Office space in downtown may have lost attractiveness percent decrease in private sector jobs in downtown to office-related businesses in recent years. The loss from 5,346 in 2002 to 4,800 in 2013. of employment in downtown Aurora in typical office • Jobs in health care, social assistance, arts, education, space sectors, finance and insurance, information, and and recreation have increased. Together, these sectors other service related sectors, suggests that the high have added over 1,300 jobs between 2002 and 2013. office vacancy rates are due to the outmigration of firms within these sectors. • The number of public sector jobs has increased between 2002 and 2013. The largest employment sector • Historic buildings are attractive; however, newer or is public administration with 2,014 jobs, a 64% increase updated space may be needed. As of late 2015, there from 1,228 in 2002. was no Class A office space in downtown Aurora and the average age of office space was 80 years old. • The downtown area has significant competition in the retail market. Retail trade sales in the downtown may • Downtown retail has not fully recovered from the be too low to attract national retailers. recession. The downtown area was hit harder by the recession than neighboring submarkets, and is still recovering.

Section 6: Economy and Jobs 67 Downtown Aurora Business Mix

There is a general perception that downtown is lacking in both the number There is abundant vacant space in existing buildings, but limited vacant and variety of retailers. In the absence of a business survey, a “windshield land in downtown Aurora. This limits the potential for new development survey” and review of available data support this conclusion. This would without redevelopment of existing and potentially underutilized spaces. suggest that many residents do not shop downtown. There is a Save-A-Lot The viability of any retailer or restaurant downtown will depend on the grocery store on the west side (in the study area) and a large Hispanic availability of appropriately sized and priced land and/or buildings, and grocer just outside the study area on the east side. Some downtown attracting patrons from nearby suburbs. The developer may also be businesses (such as the Two Brothers Roundhouse) serve unique niches wary of redeveloping a building without knowing how much additional and attract patrons from an area considerably larger than the City. There investment may be needed. Since 2011, the vacancy rate for commercial are few accommodation and event space options. real estate in downtown has remained higher than elsewhere in the City (See Appendix: Economic Development). Residents who attended the public workshop indicated interest in more restaurants and shopping destinations. Downtown has a number of restaurants and drinking establishments serving Italian, American, Brazilian, Chinese, Irish, and Mexican cuisine, as well as a number of chain fast food establishments. However, the number of Mexican options in downtown is far greater than others. The BPO Elks building, under renovation, is planned to have a restaurant and apartments. There are also many small-scale office and retail properties in downtown catering to a variety of service needs such as tax preparation and legal services, as well as personal service businesses, like barber shops. There are several financial and insurance service providers located downtown, which once provided a major source of employment. The finance and insurance sector in downtown has not returned to pre-recession levels.

Downtown Aurora’s residential new construction has lagged behind other suburban locations. The newest units, River Street condos, were completed at the beginning of the recession. Other properties, both residential and commercial, have been converted into condos and multifamily units. In the past, there was a pattern of single-family homes being converted to multifamily homes. This practice indicates demand for additional multi-family housing and the need for affordable rents.

68 Downtown Aurora Master Plan Existing Conditions Report Figure 6.1. Office Vacancy in Downtown Aurora 4th Quarter 2015 Study Area Employment Trends

The employment base has shifted significantly. Between 2002 and 2013, 30% the number of jobs in the downtown increased, but private sector jobs decreased. The largest employers in downtown are the City of Aurora, 25%

Hollywood Casino, US Post Office, and Waubonsee Community College. 20% According to the US Census’ Longitudinal Employer-Household Dynamics Survey (LEHD), there were 6,814 total jobs in downtown in 2013. 15%

Government, health care, and arts/ education/ recreation all grew in the 10% downtown area between 2002 and 2013, while eleven sectors saw declines of greater than 30 percent. (See Appendix: Economic Development). 5%

0% Real estate trends 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015

Commercial Downtown Aurora City of Aurora Western East-West Corridor There were over 3.7 million square feet of commercial real estate space Source: CMAP analysis of CoStar data, 2015. as of late 2015. Overall, the commercial space in downtown is well- balanced between office, retail, industrial, multi-family, and specialty; there are opportunities for many types of businesses (Appendix: Economic Development). The 2014 total assessed value for the properties downtown was $49.5 million. The quality of space is a major consideration for firms locating in an area. The average age of office properties downtown is 80 years, and Office space in downtown may have lost attractiveness to office related over 90 percent of this space was built before 1980. A property’s class is businesses in recent years. Before the recession, office vacancy was lower another important consideration for site selection. Class A buildings are in Downtown Aurora than both the City as a whole, and the submarket. prominent and desirable investment-grade properties. Class B buildings However, office vacancy rates spiked after 2010. As of 4th Quarter 2015, the offer more utilitarian space without special attractions. Class C buildings office vacancy rate was 21.3 percent, while rates in the City and submarket are no-frills, older properties that offer basic space. Class F buildings are were 11.3 and 13.7 percent, respectively. There are a number of factors functionally or economically obsolete. According to CoStar, as of fourth that can contribute to high vacancy, including corporate restructuring and quarter 2015, there was no class A office space in Downtown Aurora, while downsizing, outmigration and relocation, and the national economy. The more than half (56.1 percent) of the office space in Downtown was class C. loss of employment in downtown Aurora in typical office space sectors, In contrast to downtown Aurora, the submarket had 31.5 percent Class A finance and insurance, information, and other service related sectors, office space, and 17.4 percent Class C office space. suggests that the high office vacancy rates are due to the outmigration of firms within these sectors.

Section 6: Economy and Jobs 69 Retail Though downtown visitors supply occasional sales, people who work regularly and/or reside within the primary trade area sustain retail As of 4th Quarter 2015, the retail vacancy rate in downtown was 17.9 businesses. For downtown Aurora, the primary trade area is defined as a percent; this represents an improvement over the peak-recession high 10 minute drive time from the center of the downtown core, Stolp Island; of 23.6 percent. However, the vacancy rate remains higher than the 9.6 the secondary trade area is a 15 minute drive time from the same point. percent vacancy rate in both the City of Aurora and the Western East- Within the primary and secondary trade areas, there are many shopping West Corridor submarket. Retail vacancy in the City of Aurora and the opportunities outside of downtown. submarket remained relatively stable throughout the recession, never rising above 12 percent. According to ESRI Business Analyst, the estimated retail trade sales in downtown were about $25.6 million in 2014, or about $34 per square foot Figure 6.2. Retail Vacancy in Downtown Aurora 4th Quarter 2015 of retail space. Meanwhile, the primary trade area accounted for over $2 25.00% billion, or $289 per square foot. Within the secondary trade area, there is over 21 million square feet of retail space; the estimated retail trade sales were over $350 per square foot. The low retail trade sales in the 20.00% areas closest to downtown make it extremely difficult to attract national retailers. (See Appendix: Economic Development) 15.00%

10.00%

5.00%

0.00% 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015

Downtown Aurora City of Aurora Western East-West Corridor Source: CMAP analysis of CoStar data, 2015.

70 Downtown Aurora Master Plan Existing Conditions Report I2 I2 I2 Figure 6.3 Primary and secondary trade areas

Fig 6.6 Downtown Aurora - Retail Analysis Elburn T West Chicago S Geneva I2 E FABYAN PKY T

I D Winfield

L KY W R R P FABYA Rentable Building Area (Sq Ft) N PKY

K Winfield N JO

RD R A W GHES Y R HU I E B

E A K K F «¬38 N

< 30,000 N N

U ROOSEVELT RD

O Batavia P B U T R 30,000 - 125,000 H N ST N ILSO y E

R E W L t

y L

t n

T R

S n

125,000 - 400,000 u PERRY RD D

MAIN ST D

R u

o R

R E

D D

L V

D I

K C

R K

400,000 - 800,000 e

A F

N R

E e I

S g

E N

E V I

R K N n

G A a

W S

O A a

I P D

Kaneville S

L K

R A

800,000 + E T

T Warrenville B D

N A A

R T B AV

D A I R S A

R H R D K H 9

D L A 5 C R L - I Primary TradeR Area (10 minuTte drive) E A D RD L R R RFIEL I W N TE A T R R «¬47 D BU RRE A N D E N VIL D LE M A «¬56 RD H Secondary Trade Area (15 minute drive) R R R E S R RD ¬

B E « S N 31 I TAN U L HEALY R

A B D Source: ESRI, Business Analyst, 2015. OAK ST D D

D R

R FERRY

L «¬59 R

E A North Aurora T

Y H

C W DIEHL RD T

T O N

I S D O

M R D

E T SCOTT RD 88 DIEHL L D

R L § V G

¨¦ I A D N A

M I

L R H

H N

T O S

R A

O N N AVE W DEN L W OG

D A N E INDIAN TRAIL RD S W

R W INDIAN TRAIL RD K N N AUROR R A D

E R S I2

I S

A I2

V T «¬ F A 56 Route 59 Naperville

Sugar Grove N

D G Naperville ALENA BLVD

AVE T

Big Rock IL-56 ¬ RA S «25 AURO

R W T R G ALENA B S D LV I2

H D

E O N Aurora T D «¬31 S W W E RK E T O D A G Y S S S A W L E

D L R E EN E N E A A T R K BLVD

R G A V L Y D E A N A R D RICKE N A S W RT D A A E R D R G L E A T S V 75TH ST U A G O O S N

D E E R H GD B H O I

L S D S T

5 L

A F

D V F

E A

RD A D

H O Montgomery O CH RD 83RD ST I C RY E M ER NTGOM J R AUCUTT RD MO D

O R uPage County D D

R K Kane County 0 S-3 87TH ST R E U

A H ¤£30

D L

R C A Will County nty E

Kendall Cou L

E O

G 95TH ST P O A A

LEN B A N

R -

D 1

D -

D I L

L L I R E

- I 2

D D

K F E 5 R

R S N D F

E WO I R

R Y A

W RD

E C L

N 103RD ST N

I V K 104TH ST P TO

A H

C SSING RD R UG A M RO O O OLFS C B

D W

H A y R W

t D L

n E

C y

«¬47 u O t

R o

Aurora Downtown Study Area n W 111TH ST E ST

E C 111TH u

Oswego

L V

T l

o l

T D

H R L L C

Aurora Municipal Limits TR

L T

d l S ¬

8 «

L 59

l A

A 4

i n L

B 2 e

N G

Unincorporated Areas 4 S Bolingbrook

3 W

Plano O U - K

N S D U O

N R

«¬ D

71 H ST A D

T R OU N S

CouE nty Boundary C D

T O R

D E

A G

9 L R

¤£ N

34 5

P W L 1 I

- 7 E

F L E

Open Space - S A L V

O I

L V T

I I S

N R

X S

O S F 7TH ST E E

R I W 12 E P R SIMONS RD

G L A WI ater D V

N D E R

D R

D Miles E

I G R 55

D Plainfield

0 0.5 1 2 3 Yorkville I ¨¦§ R 135TH ST W 135TH ST Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning, 2015.

Section 6: Economy and Jobs 71 Industrial and Flex As of 4th Quarter 2015, there were 712,419 square feet of industrial and flex space in downtown; much (88.9 percent) of this space downtown is in older class C properties. The industrial vacancy rate was higher in downtown (9.1 percent) than in the City (5.6 percent) and I-88 West Industrial submarket (5.1 percent).

Figure 6.4. Industrial Vacancy Rates in Downtown Aurora 4th Quarter 2015 20%

15%

10%

0% 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015

Downtown Aurora City of Aurora I-88 West Industrial Source: CMAP analysis of CoStar data, 2015.

72 Downtown Aurora Master Plan Existing Conditions Report ! ! ! ! COLORADO AVE

! S AVE ! HANKE

! ! Central Business District 6 North Broadway Industrial Corridor

! 1 Broadway Corridor

CALIFORNIA AVE A U Subareas: This area is generally This area is characteR rized by large, older industrial O

E R

1 Broadway Corridor chaV racterized by historic facilities. The businesses in this area are generally A

F A LORIDA AVE A

A V 2 Downtown Core stoI refronts that provide space for large-scale hIlleinaovisy processing, assembly, and E N FOREST AVE 3 Lake-River Corridor North A Avenue a raV nge of small office and retail fabrication operations. L SUNSET AVE Park 4 Lake-river Corridor South Y ori Sented businesses. The tenants E

N ZENGELE AVE

V T 5 Roundhouse Area N

Headline A R

S are likely attracted to this area

C E LAWNDALE AVE

P W T

H E

T because of a combination of low

A I E

V E L

D L

rents, high traffic, and high V N I

A A G

Figure 6.5 Economic Generators by geographic area 3 Lake-River Corridor North visSpecialibility alon gFeature this corridor. N E

This area is characterized by low I Figure 6.5 outlines existing areas and corridors Ist fugiaspitionW ILLINOIS AVE pedioreium illandis dit, voluptae L density retail and office properties. N 2 Downtown Core EDWARDS ST based on similar economic conditions or character. The businesses along this corridor doluptatate esed moluptasin nonempores verepe mos

E Illinois E

V McCullough

T V

are a A mix of restaurants, retail, Avenue

E A

This area is the ecS onomic engine of

Park RURAL ST

May V

D D The designations do not supersede any existing E A eicaborisci doluptatur aut doluptas cumIsla ndolecesd Park qui N

personal services, and businN ess Street the downtown. MC ost of the major A

A O

L T L

Park W

M S

servicH es. A

O employers in downtown are

neighborhood names or designations. The purpose M N

G T

I cor maximol enimus culparum re dolorit, con corum P I

E A O L H

V H A O

concentrated in this areE a.

A S

N 6 K

V R

D R E of this zone and corridor-based analysis is to better dolum rem as suntoA mod excerspid ut aruptaqui

N S K r

A D T

R I PLUM ST O e understand the existing conditions of the downtown G 9 Woodlawn-Lake-Galena volorem porrovideniW officatet, adit esciunt harit a voles T

S v

study area. eos dis evende ipis ea sequoditem quaesecumi quid G This area is adjacent Vtoie wthe I

H A Street WILLIAMS ST M R

downtown core , with a clear shift in

N Park ut aute vendusam, ni volorit alicit, ut ut deruptat aut character and density. Most of the x businesses along this corridorT were rernatures exernatiae esectur empedi cuptatur, ut aut S W PARK AVE and auto-oriented retail, or heKavy o W FRON A es debit dus es nonesen ditaepere ni non con nos T S F Y T commercial. These businesseHs V A K IN North River W T CE C DA E R ST D S S occupy spaces that are retail aA nd esed quae repudanT ihiciaWilder conserupiciaStreet sa consedipicA L T T O G S R B T O V U Park R E S light industrial service facilities. S Park T T N B

S T R N T toU ommolo bea dolecto comnitE ipit, voluptas sit ma si S This corridor has no multifamily S V E C I

N H R O

S O L U C P properties; however, some of the N E 25 RIO «¬ R ST S remN asi nis ra parumquam excerro beatur? At volles N R

units within the existing E

F 3 E F commercial and residential re volupta qui sed quo quid explab ipiet imus rest, E V I2 LIBE J A RTY S W Aurora T properties along the corridor maGyALENA N BL L VD W Metra abo. Ciati dit exeriae peditiam, ut id es que natiusO T N have been converted into E C 5 Roundhouse S W Station N Y I T O L T R 5 apartments. T U C S et quae ne cor aligendK estinciis ex ea nossum laccus O N LU W M S DO N 2 S BIA WN T ST Y ER PL T A This area serves as the W S

E M E I E aborumetus, sanda ipit fugit esequi con pa doluptur? H S V gateway into the V CL C AI A M

S «¬31 ST G S D AR FIELD F central business N A VE L LA A P E G

L Velenem dolo Tinvelibus at quaepelendam et quat.G V T district. There are few Y A S COLL H O S T EGE H P AVE G HAR L H I DIN ¬31 AVE « O T businesses in this area. H T S 4 N T S Namenihit inusamN que simi, ulparchil iundit ut optasin S E T V W A B O E E 1 O L T N R G S T Dnos ideniamO ipis quam, consequae reroris dolorestiumN A C ID R N T 7 LaSalle Corridor FU L S T LT E R M E ON S O V S T S I E S R N T R S S T E quiam intur, sanimil Slestia inctate omnihilit, quiW del int E S McCarty T T R ThYis area is characterizedC by its S E O 4 E R N E T V Park K K E A A A histori Sc auto oriented retail alisqua ecepeli quiatur adipitisi quidia simaio. Verum P L W N T S 9 E S S L G O A properties in varying staN ges of C LE N N que dolor aborpor atectati7 imodiI officit atiatquamA L m Baintenance. There is a clear shift S L in cVhD aracter and density from the rectiatis utatem aut volorro eaquam nos eiumT fugiam S T T O coreS of the downtown. However, 8 C O N O fuga. Ribusante cum rerisimLA unt quam ipsapissin R R S thS e area still appears to provide a K R S E PRAIRIE ST T Dmmixix sofer vservicesices for bforoth both the the N E D reictatur? Y A OWNER PL A S W downtown, and the surrounding D A O T community. Since 2002, there has R AV O C E BENT Esequia B dolliquam ant maiorepN erovide llabor aut ON ST S K S T T been a migration of personal and 2 S R N A D T E L

L T S L S business service and social purpose T lacerem porepta dendi odicatur?C

L P S A T N T ORT T S H AVE R R S firms and employment to the S east T A E E 4 Lake-River Corridor South L I

S H C V N

E S T T N E ofN the Fox River, particularly aO long 4 S V I Beatem illestrum ratur accupiciet modis atque cum E A B O

S N H P 3 D S L T U ThRis area is in transition from LaSalle Street. S O 8 South Broadway (East Bank) K D O P 5 S S C S T W T volor rem rest la voluptatet laut qui dolo exerempA E N primarily industrial to residential J T S A T I O C R T S As of 4th Quarter 2015, there was little H E S and mixed use retail. All of the R G T V N 4TH A N VE R A O O activity in this area; however, this area A S newer housing stock within the K T M

W T R HOY S Miles L N ES S A A VE I T is where most of theA vacant land in downtown was built here. S I S P H E T 0 W 0.175 0.35 M SOUT G IN H AV E downtown waEs located. N AR Y Chicago Metropolitan Agency fA or Planning, 2015. A B VE Section Title Here 73 Section 7 HEALTH AND SAFETY Overview

Stakeholder interview comments related to There is a strong relationship between health and planning issues such as economic development:* transportation, open space, and food access. The dramatic rise in chronic disease Despite reduced crime rates, Aurora still suffers from perception of danger. rates in communities throughout the country has put the spotlight on the importance The new library is a fantastic asset; not enough people use it. of the relationship between public health and planning. To help improve community The farmer’s market is popular. health, planners and public officials have begun to promote design and development *These statements represent common perceptions from local stakeholders and may not represent patterns that encourage physical activity. However, residents who don’t feel safe are factual conditions or the opinions of all who were interviewed. unlikely to choose to walk or bike for transportation. Community health and safety are key pillars of creating a livable downtown. This section reviews data on public safety, public health, and food access. Key Findings

• For a city of its size, Aurora has one of the lowest • While Aurora is host to a successful farmers’ market, crime rates in the nation. Although violent crime there are no supermarkets or larger grocers within rates per capita are higher in Aurora than neighboring the downtown study area. communities, the rate is lower than the national • Community gardens are an important component average, on a per capita basis. of Aurora’s sustainability vision. The City has been • Aurora is a strong advocate of health and wellness, proactive about expanding the number of community but South Kane County fares worse than Central gardens to develop a citywide garden network. and North Kane County in a number of health indicators. The City works with a number of long- established service providers to deliver a number of community programs to improve the overall health of its residents.

Section 7: Health and Safety 75 Public safety Maintaining a safe community helps to retain existing residents and attract With a progressively declining crime rate, for the first time in six decades, new residents as well. Safety can also play a large role in encouraging Aurora experienced a year without a single homicide in 2012. In efforts to residents to get outdoors and be active, which is vital for public health. combat gang violence, the City established community partnerships with Some concerns about crime and safety in Aurora were voiced during the neighborhood groups and organizations, to discuss policing tactics and ways project’s stakeholder interviews and public visioning workshop. Collectively, to combat the violence. A strong effort to get at the root of gang activity, stakeholders believe that pre-conceived notions about crime persist and with the help of state and federal law enforcement, led to the arrests of the City needs to overcome the perception problem in order to attract more than 130 gang members in the late 2000s. The City’s violent crime rate businesses, residents and visitors to downtown Aurora. decreased by more than fifty percent between 2002 and 2012.

Table 7.1. Incidence of Crime for communities with approximately 200,000 residents, 2013 Crime Akron, OH Glendale, CA Aurora, IL Montgomery, AL Fayetteville, NC Richmond, VA Population 197,859 200,167 200,456 200,481 203,948 214,114 Homicide 23 1 4 44 21 37 Criminal Sexual Assault 160 8 53 41 94 43 Robbery 528 75 119 459 491 624 Aggravated Assault 859 97 425 283 662 623 Burglary 3,096 563 576 3,409 4,289 1,817 Larceny-Theft 5,922 2,384 2,285 7,548 8,455 5,949 Motor Vehicle Theft 631 251 111 1,101 762 938 Arson 85 5 20 64 40 50 Crime index (higher means more 500.7 108.6 163.7 457.1 646.8 391.4 crime, U.S. average = 294.7) Source: Crime data: City-data.com, 2013. Population data: Wikipedia, 2014 estimate.

76 Downtown Aurora Master Plan Existing Conditions Report Photo by Flickr user inventorchris2

The crime rate has increased slightly in recent years, with four reported Community Policing Programs/Initiatives homicides in 2013 and seven in 2014. Violent crime rates per capita are The City of Aurora has over 35 crime prevention programs listed on its higher than neighboring communities, at about 300 crimes per 100,000 website including the Citizen Police Academy, Crime-free Multi-Housing residents. That rate is still lower than the national average. For a city of Program, awareness programs for heroin and gangs, tips for vulnerable its size, Aurora has one of the lowest crime rates in the nation (see Table citizens such as the elderly and children walking to school. The APD 7.1).21 Regardless of community policing and low crime rates, the perception works with neighborhood groups to address local concerns. The downtown that Aurora is dangerous persists. study area includes the following neighborhood groups: Good Samaritan Community, the Boulevard District Neighbors, the 4th Ward Tomcats, and the Southwest Neighbors. The City curfew for children under age 15 is 10:00 pm daily, and 11:00 pm for children ages 16-17 on Sunday through Thursday, and midnight on Friday and Saturday. If a child is operating a vehicle outside of the curfew, the vehicle can be impounded, and the owner faces fines.

21. Analysis of 2014 FBI data, Neighborhood Scout. Online: http://www.neighborhoodscout.com/il/aurora/ crime/#description

Section 7: Health and Safety 77 Public Health In the US, about 92 percent of all trips are made by automobile,22 with few trips made by walking and bicycling. The way in which our cities are designed, and the mode choices prioritized, have significant impacts on public health. Three diseases that have been found to be closely linked to a sedentary lifestyle are heart disease, obesity, and diabetes. A 2004 study found that a person’s risk of being obese increased 6 percent for each day spent in a car, and decreased by 5 percent with every hour walked daily.23

Health issues of particular concern in Aurora and Kane County include heart disease, cancer, respiratory disease, stroke, and diabetes. In the US, one of every ten health care dollars spent goes toward diabetes and its complications. A 2014 Community Health Needs Assessment was undertaken for Kane County.24 In the Kane County South planning area (South Kane), 22 percent of adults believe that their overall health is “fair” or “poor.” This compares to 7.6 percent in Central Kane, and 12.9 percent in North Kane. These numbers are found to be higher for lower- income and Hispanic adults. Interestingly, Kane County Hispanics enjoy the longest life expectancy (84.83 years). In contrast, Kane County non- Hispanic Blacks have a markedly lower life expectancy (75.37 years).

Obesity is also a top concern for area residents, with Kane County survey respondents citing it as a concern for children and adolescents of all ages. South Kane has an obesity rate (34.5 percent) higher than the rest of Kane (24.8), Illinois (29.4), and the US (29). This rate is much higher for Hispanics (44.3) in Kane County. South Kane also reports higher incidence of respondents experiencing “fair” or “poor” mental health (16.8 percent), compared to North Kane (6.6 percent) and Central Kane (6.1 percent). Again, these numbers are higher across the county for low income adults and Hispanic adults. Infant mortality in Kane County has climbed in recent years and is much higher for black babies than for white and Hispanic babies.25 Photo by Flickr user thornet_

22. Frank LD, Sallis JF, Conway T, Chapman J, Saelens B, and Bachman W. “Many Pathways from Land Use to 24. In absence of detailed data for the study area, the data from the South Kane Planning area is used for analysis Health: Associations between Neighborhood Walkability and Active Transportation, Body Mass Index, and Air because downtown Aurora is in South Kane and Aurora comprises the majority of people in South Kane. 2014 Quality.” Journal of the American Planning Association, 72(1): 75-87, 2006. Community Health Needs Assessment. Kane County, Illinois. Prepared for Kane County Health Department, March 2015.Online: www.kanehealth.com/PDFs/CHIP/KaneCHNADatabook.pdf (accessed 2/22/16). 23. Ewing R, Frank L, and Kreutzer R. “Understanding the Relationship Between Public Health and the Built Environment: A Report to the LEED-ND Core Committee.” Pages 84-85, 2006. 25. Ibid, 2014.

78 Downtown Aurora Master Plan Existing Conditions Report Wellness and Recreational Opportunities Recreational activities range from early childhood programs to active adult activities. The Fox Valley Park District also has a variety of winter The City has a number of long-established service providers that support and school break camps that encourage interaction with the natural the health and wellness of residents in Aurora: the Kane County Health environment and provide educational components in the arts, science, Department, the Fox Valley Park District, Waubonsee Community College, technology, and agriculture. In addition, the District is taking a leading role Aurora University, University of Illinois Extension, Partners in Health, in the battle against childhood obesity. In partnership with local agencies, and the Police Department. The City also sponsors several health-related the District teaches children the importance of exercise and nutrition to events and resources to youth and seniors, such as the Partners in provide them a solid foundation for a healthy future. The District’s Red Health’s Annual Health Festival, the Aurora Sports Festival, the City of Oak Nature Center and Lippold Park provides great outdoors programs Lights Tournaments, Summer Youth Camp programs, and elder care and for families, youth and adults as part of the district’s No Child Left Inside home assistance resources. initiative.

The Fox Valley Park District is also an active contributor to the City’s health and wellness via recreation-based programing. Currently, Fox Valley Park District is the largest park district in Illinois outside of Chicago and serves a population of more than 233,000 people. The district owns and maintains 2,500 acres of open space, 22 miles of river shoreline, 164 parks, 58 baseball fields, 84 soccer fields and 44 miles of trails. Other park amenities include 93 playgrounds, 26 basketball courts and 27 outdoor tennis courts. There is a combined 500,000 square feet of indoor recreation space at the district’s three main facilities, Eola and Prisco community centers and the Vaughan Athletic Center. The downtown study area includes the following amenities: Cole Center, Prisco Community Center/ McCullough Park, Illinois Avenue Island Park, Wilder Park, North River Street Park, River Edge Park, McCarty Park, Illinois Prairie Path – Aurora Branch, Fox River Trail – West, and the Aurora River Walk.

Section 7: Health and Safety 79 ADD PHOTO

Food Access Access to fresh food is an important health consideration. In fact, some Aurora is host to a long-running successful farmers’ market, but there studies have shown that diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular disease are no supermarkets or larger grocers within the downtown study area. diabetes, and liver disease have a positive correlation with increased However, there are options just outside the study area, including a Save- distance to the nearest grocer.26 Locally-grown food is of growing interest a-lot on the west side and a small-scale Latino grocery store on the east to Aurora residents. Local food refers to a product available for direct side. Additionally, several convenience stores are located in the study human consumption that is from a community’s region or adjacent region. area, including a recently opened shop inside of Leland Tower. However, Defining the maximum distance is up the discretion of the community, but convenience stores are typically limited in their options, particularly with is typically between 100 to 300 miles. Building a strong local food system regard to fresh food, and are more costly than supermarkets. has been documented to produce a range of benefits, ranging from economic concerns, like job creation and property value increases, to more quality-of- life and environmental attributes, such as increased community interaction and stormwater retention. 26. CMAP, 2010. “GO TO 2040: Promote Sustainable Local Food.” Online: http://www.cmap.illinois.gov/ about/2040/livable-communities/local-food-systems (Accessed 2/22/16).

80 Document Title Goes Here Aurora’s Farmers Market Community Gardens A farmers market is not just a place to buy food. It also provides a social Community gardens are an important component of Aurora’s sustainability gathering space for the community and allows people to meet the farmers vision. A community garden improves access to fresh and healthy food, who grow their food. The City of Aurora Farmers Market has been in promotes a sense of community, and provides an opportunity to engage in operation for over a hundred years, making it Illinois’ oldest farmers a healthy outdoor activity. The City has been proactive about expanding market. The market offers locally grown, just-picked produce, fresh-from- the number of community gardens to promote local food production and the-farm preserves, homemade breads and pastries, specialty meats, reduce maintenance costs on vacant properties owned by the City. In artisan cheeses, flowers, and a unique selection of handcrafted products. In 2013, the Aurora City council passed the use of grant funding to create addition, patrons benefit from local groups’ demonstrations, entertainment, new gardens on three vacant city-owned lots and begin development of a and children’s activities at no charge. The market accepts LINK and offers citywide garden network. On the far-east side of Aurora, Let’s Get Growing a Double Value Bonus to patrons at all three of its farmers markets – Community Garden offers 10-by-10-foot plots to residents. The Fox Valley Aurora’s Downtown, Aurora’s West, and Aurora’s East. Park District offers over 500 community garden plots on an annual basis through the Park District’s Garden Plot Program. Another community The farmers market also sponsors a number of community programs garden sits at the East Aurora School District 131’s magnet academy. The to improve the overall health of its residents by making healthy food Marie’s Community Garden Park is sponsored by the Marie Wilkinson available, accessible, and affordable. The Fresh Exchange program provides Food Pantry and the City of Aurora for anyone’s use. Produce grown LINK Patrons a $25 dollar bonus, helping their benefit dollars go further; at these community gardens gets divided among the volunteer groups, the Fresh First Senior program partners with Two Rivers Head Start individuals who run them, and the local food pantries. Community gardens Agency to provide monthly assistance to fixed income seniors; Fresh have proven an effective way to encourage community well-being, connect First is an innovative program managed in partnership with VNA Health neighbors, and grow healthy food. Care designed to provide assistance to overweight and obese children, young mothers and families who are at risk of developing diet-related diseases, such as type 2 diabetes and heart disease. The Fresh First Outreach program provides healthy recipes, information and monthly cooking demonstrations. The Aurora’s Fresh Market also partners with the University of Illinois Extension’s Nutrition and Wellness program to provide research-based information to residents on nutrition, food safety and preservation, chronic disease management, and overall physical wellness.27

27. University of Illinois Extension: http://web.extension.illinois.edu/dkk/nw/

Section 7: Health and Safety 81 Section 8 NATURAL ENVIRONMENT Overview

Stakeholder interview comments related to natural This section provides information on the environmental features in Downtown environment:* Aurora. The information was obtained from the City of Aurora, the Illinois Whatever happens, the river should play a central role in Aurora’s future. Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA), the Illinois Department of Natural Economic development and riverfront protection/enhancement should happen Resources (IDNR), and environmental advocacy groups, along with a visual simultaneously assessment of existing conditions in the community. Completing the RiverWalk is important. RiverEdge Park is an incredible asset to the area. Brownfields are a problem along the river. *These statements represent common perceptions from local stakeholders and may not represent factual conditions or the opinions of all who were Key Findings interviewed.

• Aurora residents enjoy access to a large amount • The Fox River suffers from impaired water quality. of riverfront open space. Lands along the river The Fox River exhibits water quality problems offer passive and active recreation opportunities, along its entire length, including in the study area. community event space, and a pleasant environment According to the Illinois EPA, the river has multiple for walking and biking along the river. The City offers pollutants and low levels of dissolved oxygen, creating a number of high quality parks, as does the Fox Valley an environment that does not adequately support Park District. RiverEdge Park, with its performance aquatic life, fish consumption, primary contact, or space and high quality amenities, is a notable recent aesthetic quality. Sources of impairment include addition to the downtown environment. the effects of dams, urban runoff, combined sewer • The Fox River provides recreational opportunities, overflows, and point source discharges. wildlife habitat, and drinking water. The City draws • Significant portions of Downtown Aurora are located the majority of its water supply from the Fox River. in floodplains with a 1% or 0.2% annual chance of The river also provides aquatic habitat, opportunities flooding. While a large amount of the floodplain in the for canoeing and kayaking, and a popular site for study area is part of parks and preserved open space, fishing. there are industrial areas and even some commercial • The presence of the Fox River along the southern and mixed-use areas in the floodplain. The largest limits of Downtown could be better utilized. developed areas within the floodplain are along Indian According to stakeholder interviews, there is a Creek near where Broadway crosses the stream. desire to build a better connection to the river with improved amenities.

Section 8: Natural Environment 83 In addition to its many businesses, cultural institutions, and historic The Fox River is the third largest tributary of the Illinois River. Originating architecture, Downtown Aurora boasts an impressive array of natural in Waukesha County, Wisconsin, it flows south for 200 miles to Ottawa, resources. At the heart of downtown, the Fox River that first drew Illinois, in LaSalle County. Along the way, it passes through Lake, settlers to the area still shapes the downtown, creating its banks, views, McHenry, Kane, and Kendall Counties in Illinois, draining 1,720 square and numerous islands. Throughout the neighborhood, plentiful public miles of widely diverse ecosystems and landscapes. The Fox River open space in riverfront parks provides recreational and entertainment includes the Chain O’Lakes, a series of connected waterbodies in Lake opportunities for residents and visitors. These crucial natural resources and McHenry counties popular for motorized recreational boating. South have been the focus of several planning and environmental advocacy of Kane County, the river basin is mostly agricultural. Recent pressures initiatives, including the installation of green stormwater infrastructure associated with expanding urban development have resulted in efforts to to improve water quality. The environmental assets of Downtown Aurora preserve the Fox River watershed, including the creation of local forest present a wide range of potential benefits and pitfalls, meriting careful preserves and the Hackmatack National Wildlife Refuge, and efforts to planning. improve water quality through the Fox River Study Group.

The Fox River suffers from impaired water quality for its full length Downtown Aurora is located within the Ferson Creek-Fox River watershed. in Illinois, including in Aurora. Dams across the river affect its flow Watersheds are areas of land defined by how water moves over the and water quality, while dividing it into segments that both enable and landscape. Areas that drain into a common point, such as a stream complicate recreational use. This chapter examines the existing conditions or river, are within the same watershed. Most of Downtown Aurora is of the river itself, the land around it, and the quality and accessibility of located in the Mastodon Lake-Fox River sub-watershed, with a small area open space and recreational opportunities. along Indian Creek part of the Town of Aurora sub-watershed and a few blocks on the northern edge of the study area in the Town of Geneva- Water Resources Fox River Watershed. The Ferson Creek-Fox River Watershed is a largely Downtown Aurora lies on both banks of the Fox River, as well as on a developed watershed draining significant portions of Kane, DuPage, and number of small islands in the river. The Fox River is the dominant natural Kendall counties, as well as small areas of northwestern Cook County and feature of the area, where it defines the landscape, offers riverfront and northwestern Will County. water-based recreation opportunities, and provides a large portion of the City’s drinking water supply. While the river contributes cultural, environmental, and aesthetic resources to the downtown, it also poses a risk of flooding and suffers from impaired water quality.

84 Downtown Aurora Master Plan Existing Conditions Report Welch Creek FWFigureigate 1rs0hed.1 Su b8.1bas Watershedins and Watersh boundarieseds near Aurora Middle Upper West Branch Du Page Subbasins River Watershed Fox Watersheds Mill Creek Lake Michigan Watershed

Kishwaukee Lower West Lake Run-Blackberry Branch Du Page Creek Watershed Town of River Watershed Geneva-Fox River Downtown Watershed Lower Aurora Fox Town of Aurora 88 Watershed Chicago ¨¦§ Upper Des Illinois Plaines

Kankakee Route 59 I2

Big Rock Subbasin Creek Watershed Lower Fox Aurora I2

East Run-Blackberry Mastodon Creek Watershed Lake-Fox River Watershed

r e i v Kane County DuPage County R Spring Brook-Du x Waubonsie o Page River F Rob Roy Creek Watershed Creek Watershed Watershed dall County Will County Ken Subbasin Des Plaines

Aurora Downtown Study Area Town of Area of Restricted Groundwater Use (IEPA, 2015) Oswego-Fox .! Active Community Water Supply Well (IEPA, 2014) River Watershed

Miles Middle Morgan 0 1.25 2.5 I Du Page Creek Watershed River Watershed

Section 8: Natural Environment 85 Water Quality The IEPA collects water quality information, identifying streams and Table 8.1 provides more information on the analyzed impairments as well rivers as ‘impaired’ if the water quality does not support its intended use. as potential sources of impairments. The impairments are connected to a Currently, the IEPA considers all Illinois segments of the Fox River to range of potential causes, including changes to the river’s natural flow and be impaired, along with several tributaries. In the study area, IEPA has vegetation, and elevated amounts of certain chemicals and bacteria. IEPA’s assessed the Fox River as part of a stream segment (IL_DT-38) that runs report cites numerous sources for these impairments, with most falling into from Mill Creek in Kane County to Waubonsie Creek in the Village of the general categories of the effects of damming and impoundment, and Oswego. According to IEPA’s Section 303(d) List for 2016, this segment is point and non-point source pollution associated with urban development. not meeting Illinois’ standards for water quality.28 Specifically, the segment is impaired for four designated uses: aquatic life, fish consumption, aesthetic quality, and primary contact, and is categorized as a medium restoration priority by the state. However, IEPA has assessed this reach of the river as having water quality that fully supports its use as a public water supply. IEPA has not assessed the segment for secondary contact (such as boating). Indian Creek also flows through the eastern part of Downtown Aurora towards its confluence with the Fox River just south of Pierce Street, and has been assessed as impaired for aquatic life and primary contact.

Table 8.1. Impaired streams in Downtown Aurora Stream Segment Unsupported Uses Causes Sources Fox River (IL_DT- Primary Contact Recreation, Alteration in stream-side or littoral vegetative covers, Fecal Streambank modifications/destabilization; Impacts from hydrostructure 38) Fish Consumption, Aquatic Coliform, Mercury, pH, Phosphorus (total), Polychlorinated flow regulation/modification; Dam or impoundment; Combined sewer Life, Aesthetic Quality biphenyls, Total Suspended Solids, Other flow regime overflows; Urban runoff/storm sewers; Municipal point source discharges; alterations, Aquatic Algae Atmospheric deposition – toxics; Source unknown Indian Creek Aquatic life; Primary contact Chloride; Fecal Coliform Combined sewer overflows; Urban runoff/storm sewers (IL_DTZK) Source: IEPA, Section 303(d) List, 2016

28. US EPA, 2016. Online: http://www.epa.state.il.us/water/tmdl/303d-list.html

86 Downtown Aurora Master Plan Existing Conditions Report SAD N DLE LN

Fig 10.2 Open Space and Water System L

V TURNER RD

P R

O Aurora Downtown Study Area O S

T R U

R Aurora Municipal Limits A

D Gregory E INDIAN TRAIL RD BRIDGEUDnRincorporated Area S Park N W INDIAN TRAIL RD ALYCE LN BROUCH L Parking Lots !1 ( Bio-filtraWti oOnL Ds iINteDsIAN TRL Open Space !2 A ( U

LA E KELAWN BLVD R EDISON AVE D O V

R A

H R Water N PARK AVE A L

!R Active Well (IEPA, 2014) L Jaycee C D

A E R R

V D S

U Park L

Downtown Aurora contains land that is at high E D S

H Floodzones (FEMA, 2015) MANOR PL E

PINE AVE I A W

C F

N RICHARD ST E

I H

T risk of flooding from the Fox River. While most Floodway MICHIGAN AVE JUNGELS AVE V

N R N

A N

E O

ROBERT ST E

L N

E VE O NKES A HA R of the floodway lies in areas of preserved open 100-yr Floodplain (1 % Annual Chance Flood Hazard) A

C K G

E A

A E

V L

D AVE V HERMES S

500A -yr Floodplain (0.2 % Annual Chance Flood Hazard) N T E D space, some parking lots and industrial properties P R A SHEFFER

V O

I R Garfield A

N M

O Illinois

A L Park D M FOREST AVE

GreY en Infrastructure Vision Areas Avenue N

on the east bank of the river are within the A

A E

A SET AVE

H SUN

V Park

L T

GIV 2.2 Ecological Networks and Protected Areas S A GATES AVE H

N LEHNERTZ AVE E floodway. Additional areas, such as the vicinity of (Chicago Wilderness, 2012.) G I VE N A

LAWNDALE T W T H

VE E

NEW HAVEN A S T E

E Pigeon N

I V L

Clark Street and Baje Industrial Drive, lie within L

N Hill Park I

Miles I G E ILLINOIS AVE R

0 0.25 0.5 E

the areas that are at a 1% or 0.2% annual risk of W ILLINOIS AVE H

E EDWARDS ST

V Greene

E A E flooding. The largest developed areas within the

May V V N Park r RURAL ST

A A

O E Street A

T R

V e

E T R

A E floodplain are along Indian Creek, rather than the W

Park T

S T O

D A

V v

M D

E R A

D O A PIER E V CE

C S

Fox River; many of the properties on both sides N i T

O A

W D

A A

L T

T W

S I A

O PLUM

R O

T S L

H R

W S

H of Broadway along Indian Creek face a 1% or 0.2% S N

I View Y G

I R A Street Copley H

R M

x A Park

annual risk of flooding. Properties along New York Park T N H

C E N HA RLES K o DELIUS AVE ST V W PARK AVE A RiverEdge Y Street, including on Stolp Island, also lie within the W A A SPR L T F Park UC L H V W E ST S I North River F C N RONT ST E K EDAR E D T ST Wilder T S A C S Street

U T S area with a 0.2% annual risk of flooding. S T A O N Park L S U Park R F

T GR B

O F R B VE ST T

S N

U S

E N O

N R

H S

H D

C R

S C E U PE RIO O

E R ST A V N

W O F G E A A LENA E B F LV B D V W R W E T E Aurora A J E N S V E T N A W (!1 Metra N T L S T Y S L O O A S O

I R L Station

C K C Y N E S CO W 31 LU A ¬ N N « T MBIA ST I U S E L A M I S

N L V N U S

S R S CLAIM E ST T S V ¬31 « T C S OLL A EG 25 E T H «¬ S AV ARDIN H E AV S D E E T K ENSING V 4 T N T H ON P A O N T L A E T O I L L S LAK R E EW G D M O H O V D PL A D N E I S G A L T I E M T A N S T H S T FU T R S LTO S Lincoln S (!2 PR S N S E ING T A T ST E Park A N W E N N S EW T YORK S ST E T K S E A T GA L LEN S C O A BL LA O VD R R NO K R S S PRAIRIE ST T T E DOW H NER PL AV E T E C V A 2 K E BENTON ST N R L N D T A P S W S A T L L T R C 2 R D E E ND AVE I O V I D T O A V G T S E W D Y L E 3 S E O A P B N W R ORTH H AV V D O E E

A W T T A Y ST L I

W D L N T A A M

V E A A S E S O S R S O R A G A R B L 4TH AVE S

T E Copley Island Park E HO S Y T S S LES A V VE S S A S R OUTH A V T E N E R

S V L E GEORGE AVE I O T C T R N C W S E S S N TO

N A O S IN VE E H B L S N T P L K 5TH AVE O U S T S 5 I S EM T E IN T T F ARY C A S F N VE S S V T S A S

A S S T J U N E E H P N

K T O S A C O MA A

R A ION S

A D L T H VE M I T T South River T E S N V S D T S I T A I

B L S S 6 W H TH S W A B Street Park D V E

H O A T N R MA A E Z P H B T L E A S T V E E O O

V M T L S

I S T S A A L V C E

X E M E A D N E N T T T R E S V O O L T IN A S D A A EN 7TH A A S C V V N E E E S G R A Y E Figure 8.2. Flood risk near Downtown AuroraB A V I E F

L L A Section 8: Natural Environment O L 87 S IMMS ST

Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning, 2015. Dams “Run of river” dams, such as those in Aurora, negatively impact water quality and the safety of recreational boaters and paddlers. The presence Within Downtown Aurora, a dam interrupts the natural flow of the Fox of these dams decreases overall levels of dissolved oxygen in the river River. The Aurora/Stolp Island Dam is one of fifteen dams along the while increasing sedimentation at impoundment sites above the dams. Illinois reach of the river. While some of these dams continue to serve A 2003 study funded by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources important functions in regulating water levels, most are legacies of the (IDNR) found low levels of dissolved oxygen not just immediately above needs of earlier eras when they were used to generate power for factories. dams, but rather throughout the area with dams (impounded reaches). In Aurora, the Fox River is dammed in two sections on each side of These effects also harm aquatic habitat. Studies have found that a greater Stolp Island, several hundred feet south of Hollywood Casino. Dams number and variety of fish species are present in free-flowing areas closer have existed at this site since as early as 1915. Between the west dam to the mouth of the Fox River and that the many dams act as barriers to and the west bank of the river, a concrete chute acts as a fish passage, large, diverse populations of fish establishing themselves upstream. which paddlers can also use to bypass the dam (but it is dangerous for inexperienced paddlers). According to a 2007 IDNR report, the east Water Supply portion of the dam is owned by the State of Illinois through IDNR. The report notes that the west channel dam is under private ownership but In addition to providing recreational opportunities, ecological services, that its ownership history is vague; however, a 2014 map created for the and visual attractiveness, the Fox River is one of the City of Aurora’s Fox River Study Group by the Kane County Division of Environmental and main sources of drinking water. Sources for Aurora’s water supply include Water Resources cites the City of Aurora as the owner of the west dam. the Fox River and both deep and shallow wells. Typically, about 60% of the City’s supply comes from the Fox River. Because all surface water IDNR’s 2007 report addresses the safety of river dams in Illinois, including is potentially exposed to sources of contamination, the City practices a the east dam in Aurora. The analysis, completed by CTE/AECOM, found no number of treatment processes for its water supply, including coagulation, “obvious visual deficiencies” on the face of the dam, but did note damage sedimentation, filtration, and disinfection. Aurora’s water treatment and and erosion to one of the abutments. It also states that characteristics of supply program has earned several awards, with its water treatment plant the river current around the dam suggest possible structural problems being one of only 27 in the nation to attain the President’s Award from the with the dam. The study describes the current as showing evidence U.S. EPA’s Partnership for Safe Water. of a “very strong” roller, as well as a section of reverse roller near the left abutment. These currents present a safety hazard, as they can trap objects or boaters against the face of a dam. According to the report, the Aurora Fire Department reported no safety incidents at the east dam, but approximately ten drownings at the west dam. There is a portage point with a ramp just north of the east dam behind the public parking lot across Broadway from the Aurora Central Fire Station, but no nearby portage point below the dam on the east side. On the west side, there is a portage point north of New York Street, about 0.3 miles above the re-entry point.

88 Downtown Aurora Master Plan Existing Conditions Report Section Title Here 89 Land Resources Fox Valley Park District City Parks Based in Aurora and serving the communities of Aurora, Montgomery, and North Aurora, the Fox Valley Park District maintains a series of properties Downtown Aurora features a number of large areas of open space, in Downtown Aurora. In addition to the main properties described below, containing active recreational opportunities, community event spaces, the Fox Valley Park District also maintains many of the areas of more conserved wildlife habitat, and large amounts of riverfront land. Both the passive open space along the river, such as Illinois Avenue Park, North City of Aurora and the Fox Valley Park District maintain land holdings River Street Park, and several small Fox River islands. in the Downtown area, primarily along the river and on some of the undeveloped islands. • Veterans Memorial Island: From the Illinois Avenue Bridge, residents can access a small island in the Fox River that includes a Veterans Memorial, a • RiverEdge Park: Opened in the summer of 2013, RiverEdge Park is the concrete boat launch, walking paths, and parking. culmination of many years of planning, design, and implementation. It offers ticketed events throughout the summer at the John C. Dunham • McCullough Park: West of the river, McCullough Park features a Pavilion, an outdoor amphitheater that seats 8,500 visitors. Past events playground, picnic shelter, open space, and connections to the Fox have included the annual Blues on the Fox festival and performances by River Trail. It is also the site of the Prisco Community Center, which Hall and Oates, Mavis Staples, and Blues Traveler. The park also hosts offers classes, meeting spaces, a gymnasium and fitness center, and a outdoor movies, food and culture festivals, and other community events. performance stage. The park is operated by the Aurora Civic Center Authority. Residents can also experience these ticketed events for free by picnicking on the west side of the river, at North River Street Park. • Wilder Promenade: Located on North Lake Street on the west side of the river, Wilder Promenade provides gardens, benches, a Vietnam Memorial, an Aurora Policemen’s Memorial and grassy tree shaded areas. • McCarty Park: One of Aurora’s oldest parks is McCarty Park, located at 350 East Galena Boulevard. Originally dedicated in 1832, the park is named after the McCarty brothers who founded the settlement that became Aurora. It recently received a $700,000 renovation that added an interactive fountain and splash pad, new entryways, a pergola, energy- efficient lighting, and landscaping.

90 Downtown Aurora Master Plan Existing Conditions Report City of Aurora Green Initiatives In addition to municipal sustainability initiatives, Aurora offers several programs that encourage residential conservation. Through a partnership Aurora has been recognized for its environmental practices and with The Conservation Foundation, Aurora’s rain barrel program allows commitment to sustainability, which have been a top priority for residents to purchase rain barrels that collect storm water helping to Mayor Thomas Weisner’s administration. This commitment has been reduce runoff reaching the Fox River. The City also provides funding demonstrated through the development of the Seize the Future Master and technical assistance to homeowners seeking to make energy efficient Plan, Riverfront Vision Plan, and RiverEdge Park Master Plan, which upgrades to their homes. In terms of education and outreach, Aurora is guide sustainable development and the City’s Sustainability Plan. In 2007, one of five communities to receive the Clean Air Counts Platinum Award, funding from the IEPA allowed Aurora to investigate green infrastructure which recognizes efforts to inform and educate residents on ways to strategies for stormwater management to reduce run off and improve improve air quality. As a result of these efforts, Aurora was named the the water quality of the Fox River. To restore areas along the Fox River, first “Green Power Community” in Illinois, highlighting the City’s use of environmental remediation was conducted with the support of the IEPA renewable energy to eliminate CO2 emissions. at a landfill site which is now part of River Edge Park. This activity was crucial to completing RiverEdge Park, a significant accomplishment for the Green Stormwater Management City reflecting a strong desire to protect land around the Fox River. To advance the water quality and conservation goals embodied in its Further examples of the City’s commitment to sustainability are evident Sustainability Plan, RiverEdge Plan, and other initiatives, the City of in the implementation of several green features in municipal buildings Aurora has pursued a number of green stormwater management strategies and infrastructure. Funding from a federal grant was used by the City to in the Downtown area. Green stormwater management refers to a broad replace stop lights in the downtown with computerized traffic signals to set of best practices in infrastructure, policy, technology, and management reduce traffic congestion and CO2 emissions from stopped vehicles. Solar that take natural systems and engineered areas that mimic natural panels have also been installed at the Aurora Transportation Center and systems to filter and infiltrate stormwater runoff. Green stormwater light fixtures in multiple City buildings have been modified to include management can reduce the volume and pollution levels of runoff that energy efficient light bulbs. Municipal efforts to reduce gas consumption reaches the sewer system and surface water bodies. In Aurora, green in City vehicles resulted in Aurora receiving the “Green Fleets” stormwater infrastructure helps to mitigate flooding and improve water designation from the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) in quality in the Fox River by reducing both point source pollution from 2006. In 2009, the Aurora Police Headquarters opened with LEED Gold combined sewer overflows and non-point source solution from runoff that Certification. The building includes permeable pavers, and was built with passes over developed, urbanized areas. Aurora’s efforts to implement recycled materials. green stormwater management has earned them recognition from the Natural Resources Defense Council, a national environmental advocacy organization.

Section 8: Natural Environment 91 Aurora developed its major green stormwater projects based on an IEPA- In conjunction with these investments, the City also created a Naturalized funded study completed in 2009. These projects include infrastructure that Stormwater Management Corridor Plan (NSMCP) for a large area that mitigates the impact of the surface parking near the Aurora Transportation includes northeastern portions of the Downtown study area, where Center, rain gardens along Spring Street, and elements of RiverEdge Park. the City was decombining its storm and wastewater sewer system. Decombination reduces combined sewer overflows, but also results in the • Lincoln Avenue Metra Parking: In the commuter parking lot at the corner increased flow of stormwater into the Fox River. The NSMCP helped the of Spring Street and Lincoln Avenue, the City installed a bio-filtration City identify the most promising and beneficial parcels to locate green facility in 2010 (shown in photo to the right). To clean stormwater runoff stormwater BMPs. The City also created a stormwater management toolkit before it reaches the Fox River, the City retrofitted an existing detention to educate landowners, developers, and government officials about best basin, installing native plants and a sand filter. The facility fully treats the practices. These projects were funded through an EPA Section 319 Grant in first 3/4” of rainfall on the 4.5 acre parking surface, removing suspended partnership with CMAP. solids and other pollutants. • Spring Street Rain Gardens: Along the south side of Spring Street between 4th Street and Root Street, the City installed five rain gardens between the sidewalk and street in 2010. Rain that falls on Spring Street and the adjoining properties to the south flows to the rain gardens, which uses native plants and a sand and gravel base to cleans and infiltrate the stormwater. The gardens treat the first 3/4” of rain that falls on 1.3 acres, decreasing the volume of runoff in that area by 72%. • RiverEdge Park Stormwater Wetland Bio-swale: Also in 2010, the City constructed a bio-swale that contains a manufactured water quality unit and is planted with native vegetation. The bio-swale intercepts and filters stormwater from an existing storm sewer before it enters the Fox River. It fully treats the first 3/4” of stormwater that flows from a 5.2 acre area of industrial lots and Broadway Avenue.

92 Downtown Aurora Master Plan Existing Conditions Report Green Groups Valley of the Fox Group Chapter of the Sierra Club Aurora and the downtown area benefit from several public and private Since 1992, the Valley of the Fox Group chapter of the Illinois Sierra environmental organizations that advocate for sustainability and Club has been active in Kane and Kendall Counties offering a wide range conservation. These groups and their activities are briefly described below. of opportunities for members to support environmental conservation. These opportunities include group discussions on environmental issues, Aurora Sustainability Council presentations from environmental advocates, and group outings to explore The Aurora Sustainability Council, also known as Sustainable Aurora, local forest preserves. One of the group’s most significant activities is serves as an advisory board to the Aurora City Council on sustainability testing pollution levels in the Fox River, which has been supported by a and environmental practices. The 13-member Council’s activities are group called the Valley of the Fox Water Sentinels since 2005. primarily directed towards implementation of Aurora’s Sustainability Plan, Green Buddha Life Center which was adopted in 2009. The plan established broad strategies towards improving long term sustainability in Aurora by enhancing environmental Located in downtown Aurora, the Green Buddha Life Center is the first practices within City operations and aligning development policies to center in the western suburbs dedicated to sustainability and healthy encourage sustainable growth. To implement the Sustainability Plan, lifestyles with a focus on environmental health and justice for low income Sustainable Aurora advises the City Council on programs and activities and minority communities. The Center serves as meeting space for local that advance the plan’s recommendations. These recommendations include and regional sustainability groups, sells recycled books via an online increasing sustainability in municipal buildings and encouraging transit bookstore, and has an eco-arts gallery. Other green initiatives offered by oriented development. Sustainable Aurora includes four Committees the Center include a bike rental program and sound healing events. which provide expertise, research, and programming that guide members The Conservation Foundation as they advise the City Council. Other Sustainable Aurora duties include cultivating a local movement for sustainability and helping the City Operating primarily in Will, Kane, DuPage, and Kendall Counties, Council and Mayor understand community needs when considering The Conservation Foundation is a nonprofit organization dedicated sustainability issues. to preserving and protecting open space, natural lands, rivers, and watersheds. The Foundation has partnered with the City of Aurora to sell Aurora Green Lights rain barrels through a municipal rain barrel program, which helps reduce An affiliate of The Conservation Foundation, Aurora Green Lights is a group storm water runoff to the Fox River. Protection of the Fox River has been a of independent community organizers that coordinate the annual Aurora major focus for the organization. GreenFest. Started in 2010, the Aurora GreenFest provides eco-friendly exhibits and speakers to discuss trends in sustainability and environmental issues. Opportunities are available for children to learn about conservation and attendees can share and discover green solutions for their homes or businesses. The event draws families, business owners, and educators from across the Fox River Valley region.

Section 8: Natural Environment 93 Section 9 EDUCATION, ARTS, and COMMUNITY SERVICES Overview

Stakeholder interview comments related to arts, The purpose of this section is to provide an inventory of public services and facilities culture, and community services:* and identify gaps, if any, that need to be filled going forward. Existing community Aurorans have a unique pride about being from Aurora (but many rarely visit downtown) services are provided by the City, township, Kane County, regional organizations, There is a need for a cultural arts center; David L Pierce is great but there’s not enough room and private entities. The information in this section was obtained from City staff, for classes or workshops High-levels arts has been a great success the Institute of Education Sciences, a division of U.S. Department of Education, and in downtown Aurora (especially Paramount project team research and analysis. Theatre) Police response is quick, crime is down The new library is a fantastic asset, new technology is underutilized Roots Aurora is a fun unity festival in a city that Key Findings is quite culturally divided The government needs to provide the “bones” • Downtown Aurora is home to many public and civic • With so many arts efforts in the community, there to make arts and culture thrive *These statements represent common perceptions organizations. In addition to City and Township is a need for direction and coordination. To avoid from local stakeholders and may not represent government offices, Downtown Aurora has a number duplication of efforts and to build upon successes in factual conditions or the opinions of all who were interviewed. of schools, religious institutions, a library, post related areas, improvements in coordination of efforts office, police and fire stations, parks and recreation is needed. department, historic museums, and other cultural • The east side school district has lower rankings than organizations within the study area boundary or the west side for all schools. Lower student-to-teacher within close walking distance. ratios and more children with linguistic challenges hurts the area’s test scores.

Section 9: Education, Arts, and Community Services 95 Arts and Culture Aurora Civic Center Authority The Aurora Civic Center Authority (ACCA) was created by a Public There have been a number of recent successes and accomplishments Act in 1974 during the mayoral term of Albert D. McCoy. Its full name relating to arts and culture in recent years. These include policies, is the Aurora Metropolitan Exposition, Auditorium and Office Building programs, and infrastructural improvements such as the signs for the Authority. ACCA has nine Board members appointed by the mayor, each Downtown Heritage Tour, a set of Architecture Trading Cards and posters, serving a term of three years. According to the City website, the Board downtown planters, and transportation and wayfinding improvements. is “authorized by law to promote, operate and maintain expositions, Organizations conventions, theatrical, sports and cultural activities in the City of Aurora and in connection with the Paramount Arts Center.” They operate the Aurora Public Art Commission Paramount Arts Centre, North Island Center, and RiverEdge Park. The Aurora Public Art Commission (APAC) is a civic organization that promotes a variety of arts initiatives for the City of Aurora. It was Through an inter-governmental agreement, the City of Aurora and ACCA established in 1985 by the City to develop a public arts program. The agreed to allow ACCA to manage RiverEdge Park. In 2013, their assets Commission consists of nine volunteer members, appointed by the Mayor. were over $20 million. Annual operating expenses are approximately $10 APAC hosts between six and eight exhibitions per year in its galleries at million, and revenues for 2013 were slightly less than that. If approved by the David L. Pierce Art and History Center, as well as two annual exhibits a majority of voters, ACCA can issue bonds and they have the authority to at Aurora’s City Hall. APAC also develops programs in arts education, levy taxes to pay for the bonds. establishes exhibit schedules, selects artists and oversees their work. Aurora Downtown APAC has commissioned 8 sculptures, including: City Lights/City Life Aurora Downtown is a Special Service Area bounded by Lincoln Avenue, (North Island Center), The Journeyman (Aurora Transportation Center), Lake Street, Spring Street, and Clark Street. The association has The Bears and Animal Reliefs (Phillips Park), The Fireman (Aurora approximately 250 property owners and a 24-member board of directors, Regional Fire Museum), Isaac2/Swimming Stones (Benton and Stolp), half of whom are elected. The others are appointed by various agencies The Mastodon Dig (Visitor’s Center at Philips Park), and Marie Wilkinson in downtown Aurora. The businesses in the district tax themselves at 1% (Aurora Public Library). In addition, APAC operates the GAR Veterans of the property’s equalized assessed value to support various activities, Memorial Museum. beautification efforts, infrastructure maintenance, and marketing to promote the downtown. Aurora Downtown assists with promoting several independently organized downtown events such as First Fridays, Aurora Green Drinks, Winter Lights, Pop Up Shops, and more. Most recently, the group started a successful grant program for new businesses locating in a downtown storefront, and all of the recipients have participated in First Fridays.

96 Downtown Aurora Master Plan Existing Conditions Report ADD PHOTO

Aurora Preservation Commission Local Community Arts Efforts The Aurora Preservation Commission has many responsibilities, as In addition to the official organizations in Aurora, there are many non- outlined in Section Five: Built Environment. profits, art galleries and concerned citizens coming together to promote and enhance downtown Aurora. It is a result of these grassroots efforts that the City has seen such successes as Aurora Green Drinks, the Vacant Windows Project, Wednesdays at the Plaza, the Transcendence mural at Hesed House, Louche Puce Market, Pop Up Shops, and First Fridays. The popular First Fridays festival with art and music grew from coordinated ArtWalks by Cultural Creatives, Inc. in 2008 to a modest recurring event at Two Brothers called the ArtBar in 2012. More recent Frist Fridays have featured openings and events at well over a dozen locations. A local nonprofit bookstore, Culture Stock, also hosts community arts and culture events.

Section 9: Education, Arts, and Community Services 97 Theatre Museums Paramount Theatre David L Pierce Art and History Center The Paramount Theatre opened in 1931 and was the first air-conditioned Owned and maintained by the City of Aurora, the Center contains the building outside of Chicago. The Paramount was open and running until main offices and exhibition galleries of the Aurora Historical Society and 1976, when it was purchased by the ACCA. At that time, the theatre was the Aurora Public Art Commission. closed and the planning for a major renovation began. In early 1978, the theatre reopened offering a variety of musical, theatrical, comedy, dance, G.A.R. Memorial and Veterans Military Museum and family programs. The GAR was built as a monument to Aurora’s Civil War Veterans, a shrine to their fallen comrades, and a meeting hall for veterans. The In 2011, the Broadway series debuted, attracting a wider audience and museum’s mission is to preserve and showcase the building, artifacts, and expanding the reach of the theatre, which currently has the second largest history through exhibits and programs. The GAR also served as Aurora’s subscriber base in the state of Illinois. It was named one of the Top Ten first free library and will reopen to the public after undergoing significant Theatres in Chicago by the League of Chicago Theatres and in 2015, the restorations. first year it was eligible for the Joseph Jefferson Awards (Jeff Awards), the Paramount received 5 Jeff Awards, including best large musical. Aurora Regional Fire Museum The mission of the Aurora Regional Fire Museum is to preserve and Copley Theatre exhibit the artifacts and history of Aurora and surrounding area fire The Copley Theatre is located inside of North Island Center, across the departments. street from the Paramount Theatre. It is also run by ACCA. SciTech Hands on Museum Riverfront Playhouse The Sci-Tech Hands on Museum hosts a variety of exhibits and programs The Riverfront Playhouse is a not-for-profit storefront theater founded aimed to inspire passion for science and technology for visitors of all ages. in 1978 that has put on over 200 shows in downtown Aurora. In addition The museum also hosts a SciTech Discovery Preschool, classes, senior to regular shows, the theatre also offers programming, such as children’s citizen programming, and other programs. summer camps. It is located on Water Street, Aurora’s pedestrian mall. Tanner House Museum The Tanner house was built in 1857 in an Italianate-style for a prominent merchant and his family. In 1936, members of the Tanner family donated the house to the Aurora Historical Society. In 1976, it was placed on the National Register of Historic Places. Today, the museum hosts tours and events and is located just west of the study area for the downtown master plan.

98 Downtown Aurora Master Plan Existing Conditions Report Community Cohesion People from Aurora have a great sense of hometown pride. A popular 1960’s campaign featuring “Andy Aurora” and the slogan, “I’m from Aurora, Illinois and PROUD OF IT!” was resurrected in 2012 and the sentiment still holds strongly for many people. Aurora had many vocal abolitionists against slavery from before the start of the Civil War, and was known for tolerance and inclusivity.

Despite this strong hometown pride and tolerance, a literal and figurative divide along the Fox River exists between the east and west sides of Aurora. The two sides of town are demographically different, with more Latinos living on the east side in recent decades. Latinos have a long history in Aurora, dating back to the 1920s when Mexican immigrants were hired to build the railroads and lived in boxcars in Eola. (Additional demographic information in appendix).

Community boards and commissions are dedicated to cultivating diversity and promoting community development and human relations, including the African American Heritage Advisory Board, the Hispanic Heritage Advisory Board, Indian-American Community Outreach Advisory Board, and the Human Relations Commission.

The Special Events Division also works to promote the City with events and cultural activities to encourage community pride and participation, enhance quality of life, and promote cross-cultural exchanges. The Division puts on the Memorial Day, 4th of July and Veterans Day parades as well as the three weekly farmer’s markets in the summer, and fireworks for Diwali, Winter Lights and the 4th of July. They also assist with the Fiestas Patrias, Puerto Rican parades, and more.

Image courtesy of the Aurora Historical Society.

Section 9: Education, Arts, and Community Services 99 Figure 9.1 Community FacilitiesNumber FEATURE_NAME 1 Hollyw ood Casino Aurora 2 East Aurora Cemetery LAKELAWN BLVD Community Amenities City Hall Fire Department FVPD E

li li li V A

3 West Aurora Cemetery

N PARK AVE L

Township of Aurora Post Office College Hospital L

4 Claim Street Baptist Church li li li li E

S S

5 Emmanuel Evangelical Lutheran Church EntertaMinAmNOeRn Pt/L Music Venue Museum Church Cemetery A li li li li T

A S

U 6 First Baptist Church R R CoMmICmHIuGnAiNty A VCEenter Hotel Public Library CasE ino O li li li li N R 7 First Presbyterian Church of Aurora !60 N A li E N T Theater/Arts Center Park Senior Living A DamZ COLOR ADO AVE S L 8 Grace Lutheran Church li li li V li A

E E E K

C V E

9 Lutheran Church of the Redeemer A TranA sportation Center Schoo l Shopping Center

L S li E D li li

A T

V N

10 Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Church A

I M

11 Saint Joseph Roman Catholic Church N M

A A FOREST AVE

V H 12 Saint Marys Roman Catholic Church L NSET AVE !4li0 Y SU

13 Saint Michaels Eastern Rite Catholic Church N ZENGELE AVE

R T

C S E NDALE AVE LAW

14 Saint Nicholas Roman Catholic Church NEW HAVEN AVE P T

A O

R li O

15 Saint Pauls Lutheran Church D R

A li li 16 Trinity Episcopal Church V !64 N E ILLINOIS AVE 17 Wesley United Methodist Church li!46 E W ILLINOIS AVE 18 Aurora City Hall !2li0 19 Waubonsee Community College E rk V a !39 RURAL ST

A P li 20 Prisco Community Center !3 h

A li li ug !28 !50 W lo 21 Transportation Center !63 l !41 t

O u li s I

T li

V C li e E c !13

22 Stolp Island Dam V M W

D A li

K l

D R 23 Stolp Island Dam A R

L R

I r O E T

G E W

24 River Edge Park r

S V

v V !35 i

25 Aurora Fire Department Central Station Y W R I

E x I li

M !38 o

V R

R 26 Broadw ay Hotel li F

27 Hurds Island T

S W P XX K AR !42 28 Spiers Island K AVE li!57 li W !59 OO Y A li A H V !24 29 Stolp Island T I FF W K C N li S EDA E D R C S T T S A T T G A S ROV 30 Regional Fire Museum T h O E L U !36 ST T S c B R N li n S R B T !8 a 31 SciTech Hands On Museum U E r S V B N C li E I a O R H r 32 May Street Park L C N o !52 r !17 N !55 N li !37 u 33 McCarty Park A !51 li li - lili E h I2 !14 V T li t 34 Pigeon Hill Park a Aurora A S W !6 GA W P !21 T LEN N Y A B N e liMetra L S L A E i 35 Stevens Playground V liD W r O i T M Y Station a C T O U R r S N S K P 36 Wilder Park N I

S L T s T i W S o !26 N E E n 37 North River Street Park I !1 i C r l LAIM V H l ST li to !23 I C S c 38 View Street Park e !19 li li S n E !25 n V li o !22 !30 C li A T 39 Illinois Avenue Island Park l P S ai L !29 li li !47 r O H T T T !56 40 Illinois Avenue Park r S 4 T li e !43 li iv E N li!61 N S V !62 R A T !2 41 McCullough Park x li k O o E T l li a G F T L S !18 E O li S D N R A D R rW !58 li E 42 Post Office L E I E e W N E K M IV v A i li!31 T Y S L li R R T S O 43 Aurora Public Library S S ra !33 R o R E K r E G ST u T A li 44 L D Brady Elementary School A A L EN W A S 45 Emmanuel School BL VD !9 !16 !49 !7 46 Nancy Hill Elementary School li li li li !12 T 47 Madonna High School (historical) S li N C L O AR S 48 Saint Joseph School K R S E T D E D 49 Saint Marys School N OWNER PL A S !53 50 Saint Michaels School A T Aukrora Downtown Study Area V C E BENT l ON li ON ST 51 Saint Nicholas School a ST K W Y R !15 A T Ar urora!2 M7 unicipal Limits A L L S W P e 52 Todd Elementary School v D C li 2ND A i T VE A NORTH R R AVE O E a I 53 K D Waldo Middle School r Unincorporated EArea R V B V o T r A S E u S T D E L B 54 Young School A E S O V P Open SpaceO L A L T H !5 W N T A N 55 Archbishop Romer School E S L 4 S O A A S li Water O L C R T !45 G 4TH A R N S VE 56 Aurora Central High School S I !54 L H li

T S T li HOYLE T 57 Living Waters Fellow ship School Downtown Parking Lots 5 S AV S E S

S N OUTH AV N E O 58 STEM Academy A Metra Rail Lines S M

A I 59 Presence Fox Knoll Retirement Community W T E H STON W S I2 Metra Stations AVE 60 Northgate Shopping Center S B G L S T 5TH AVE U EM N INARY S Existing BikeFways A 61 Paramount Arts Center F VE A A ST B

M 100 62 Riverfront Playhouse Miles L E I MA A R T 0 V0A.15 0.3 ION AVE NS 63 Tow nship of Aurora Chicago Metropolita An Agency for Planning, 2015. VE 6TH A 64 Cole Center VE Community Facilities Religious Institutions Downtown Aurora is home to numerous social service agencies, non- There are over a dozen religious institutions in the study area and nearby, profits, health care facilities, and religious institutions serving the including (bold text indicates location within the study area boundaries): community. Additionally, the City of Aurora provides many services for • Community Christian Church East Aurora its residents, including the following departments: Community Services, Development Services, Emergency Management, Finance, Fire, Police, • Emmanuel Evangelical Lutheran Church Public Properties, Public Works, Parks and Recreation, Street Maintenance, • First Baptist Church and Special Events. • First Presbyterian Church of Aurora Health Care Facilities • Fox Valley Hispanic Seventh Day Adventist Church* While there are no large hospitals within the study area, Presence Mercy • Free Methodist Church* Medical Center is just north of the study area. There are a number of • Grace Lutheran small medical offices within the downtown study area. • Iglesia de Dios Pentecostal* Social service agencies • Iglesia Universal del Reino de Dios* Most social service agencies in downtown Aurora are located close to • Lutheran Church of the Redeemer Stolp Island in the downtown core, as well as just north of the study area by Presence Mercy Hospital. Prominent agencies in the downtown • New England Congregational Church area include: Family Counseling Services, Catholic Charities, World Relief • The Oasis Bible Church of Aurora Original Temple of God church Aurora, Dunham Fund, Fox Valley United Way, Aurora Township Youth • Our Savior Lutheran Church Services, Family Focus Aurora, Wayside Cross, and other church-affiliated groups. Just south of the study area, the Hesed House serves to shelter, • Saint Joseph Roman Catholic Church feed, and clothe homeless individuals and families. It is the second largest • Saint Mary’s Roman Catholic Church shelter in the state of Illinois, and the largest outside of Chicago, serving • Saint Michael’s Easter Rite Catholic Church between 150 and 200 guests each night. Additionally, Mutual Ground helps to combat domestic violence, and various food pantries feed Aurora’s • Saint Nicholas Roman Catholic Church hungry families. • Saint Paul’s Lutheran Church • Trinity Episcopal Church • The Vineyard Aurora Church • The Warehouse Church • Wesley United Methodist Church • Genesis Community Church *Some or all services in Spanish.

Section 9: Education, Arts, and Community Services 101 ADD PHOTO

Library The Aurora Public Library is one of the oldest institutions in the City of In the new library, there are meeting rooms for businesses (small ones are Aurora, established in 1881 through city ordinance. The original library was free, large ones are very inexpensive), there is a Maker Space with three 3D a Carnegie building located on Stolp Island at 1 E. Benton Street in 1904. printers, a banner printer, a laser cutter, vinyl cutter, virtual reality, and a In the 1950s, interior upgrades were made and in 1969 a major renovation digital media lab. The library hosts story time, computer classes, and adult added wings and another story, almost tripling its size. The renovation programming. The library works with Spark (a group associated with the included a limestone cladding and a modern appearance. In May of 2015, United Way), World Relief, and local schools. They also bring their book- the Main Library was closed and the newly constructed Santori library mobile to school districts that have limited on-site collections. opened in June. Both locations are in the downtown study area. Since the 1950s, the library has operated various book-mobiles to deliver books and materials to local schools and people who are homebound.

102 Document Title Goes Here Educational Institutions There are four elementary schools, one middle school, two high schools, Waubonsee Community College provides the only higher education and two private schools within one half-mile of the downtown Aurora study facility in the study area, and Aurora University is about two miles west area. Table 12.1 provides an overview of the number of enrolled students and of the downtown core. In addition to their curricula for associate degrees, the student-teacher ratio for each school. Compared to the State of Illinois Waubonsee also offers non-credit educational classes and programs in the average of 15.19 students per teacher, only the K.D. Waldo Middle School areas of workforce development, community education, and adult education. falls below this average. The downtown campus has over 50 classrooms and 132,000 square feet, including a student bookstore, and a café/convenience center. The campus The website GreatSchools.org rates schools primarily on test data, but also has multipurpose rooms and conference rooms available for public use includes additional data where available. There is a stark divide between the for a small fee. The college collaborates with local organizations to host east and west school districts, with most schools on the west side ranking community events. as “average” and most schools on the east side falling “below average.”

Table 9.1. School Enrollment for Schools within one-half mile of the downtown study area (public school data from 2013-2014, private school data from 2011- 2012). Student- Enrolled Great Schools District School Teacher Students Rating (1-10) Ratio Aurora West District 129 (2013 – 2014 ) 4 Hill Elementary School 607 23.4 5 Todd Early Childhood Center 347 26.62 NR Aurora West High School 3,711 18.11 4 Aurora East District 131 (2013 – 2014) 2 C.M. Bardwell Elem School 871 17.42 3 K.D. Waldo Middle School 911 14.02 2 L.D. Brady Elem School 532 17.16 1 Aurora East High School 3,525 20.42 2 Private (2011 – 2012) NR Holy Angels 522 20.2 NR St. Joseph Elementary 202 17.21 NR Source: U.S. Department of Education, Institute of Education Sciences, and GreatSchools.org.

Section 9: Education, Arts, and Community Services 103 Section 10 LOOKING FORWARD Overview

Downtown Aurora is rich in history, arts, cultural and natural resources, all of which are highly valued and contribute to the quality of life enjoyed by residents. Enhancing these qualities should be one of the central themes of the Downtown Plan. Based on the key findings of this report, the following themes emerged as priority issues to be addressed by the plan:

Build upon connections to the ATC In late 2015, the City of Aurora was awarded $8.6 million in federal funds through the Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality program for changes to the Aurora Transportation Center (ATC), including a pedestrian bridge over the Fox River. The City also has a $2 million grant from the Kane County Forest Preserve District to put towards the project. The recommendations put forth in the updated master plan should build upon the improved bicycle and pedestrian access planned for the ATC.

Increase residential density and variety, particularly near transit infrastructure Adding new residential units and rehabilitating older structures to provide additional housing will strengthen the downtown. Recommendations in the master plan will focus on ways to promote residential housing, with a focus on areas with excellent access to transit and amenities.

Address safety concerns to enhance walkability In addition to having more destinations to walk to, research in this report and commentary provided by stakeholders has identified a number of gaps in the network of safe streets in the study area. The recommendations in the report will identify missing connections, areas for lighting enhancements, and infrastructural changes to improve safety.

Section 10: Looking Forward 105 Coordinate arts and culture efforts Increase riverfront access and recreational enjoyment In a city of Aurora’s size with a fast-growing arts and culture scene, Strategies for introducing visitors to the river as well as better utilizing there are many different groups working to promote and enhance arts the riverfront as a community asset will be a key feature of the plan. in the downtown area. Some of these efforts are city-sponsored and Maintaining and building connections to local and regional trails, others are grassroots. Lack of coordination can lead to redundancy especially along the riverfront, is also a priority. Additionally, increasing and duplication of efforts. Ideas for improving coordination of arts and recreational use of the river and improving water quality is an important culture ventures will be addressed in the recommendations. goal, and removing obsolete structures and improving viewing sites should be considered. Address concerns with building codes developers perceive as restrictive In an effort to promote rehabilitation of older structures, the City has Increase the visibility of Downtown Aurora gone to great lengths to help developers understand and work within the Downtown Aurora stands out for its tall buildings and dense urban building code. They have created a forum on building and permits; they fabric. However, it is not highly visible to those traveling on nearby have a Development Services Team dedicating to helping streamline major roads. With multiple routes into the Downtown off of Route the development process. However, some developers have pointed 25 and Route 31, improved signage or gateways on these heavily to certain codes or requirements that prevent them from building in traveled corridors will help draw potential customers in to support local downtown. The report will take a deeper look into those restrictions to businesses. Improving wayfinding signage from the train stop will also understand where there is confusion, and where changes to the code are help draw visitors further into downtown. recommended. Preserve and promote the unique history of Aurora Foster a supportive business environment Residents are proud of their historic community and the downtown plan Innovative approaches to creating a supportive business environment will focus on preserving and strengthening this heritage. From George have led to the creation of the region’s first fiber optic cable system Elmsie to Mayan Revival architecture, the educational and economic to support the tech industry. Current business recruiting and retention development potential of Downtown can be expanded. Informed by efforts have brought new businesses to the downtown. Ongoing approaches in similar communities, like Oak Park, the plan will present efforts to understand the needs of existing businesses should continue. recommendations for building on current efforts already underway. Improved communication with, and support for existing small businesses is also needed. Identifying specific needs to attract a diverse range of businesses to the downtown will be examined in the master plan.

106 Downtown Aurora Master Plan Existing Conditions Report Make it easy to visit Next Steps Creating a city that is easy to navigate and welcoming to all is an After the Existing Conditions Report is presented to the Steering important consideration. For those that drive, knowing that they’ll likely Committee and City staff for review and discussion, the next step in get a parking space is an important consideration for their trip. However, the process will be to work with the community to create a shared too much parking can also make it harder to create lively, walkable vision. CMAP will work with residents, business owners, elected and places. The plan will present recommendations for how the City can appointed officials, and Village staff to begin creating a draft plan and achieve a balance so that pedestrians, bicyclists, commuters, and drivers recommendations. are encouraged to visit and that they can easily get around once they are downtown.

Section 10: Looking Forward 107 APPENDICES Appendix: Demographic profile

The following section provides an analysis of demographic trends that impact the downtown Aurora community. Data was gathered from the U.S. Census Bureau, the American Community Survey, and the Longitudinal Employer Household Dynamics. For comparisons and trend analysis, data was also collected for Kane County and the seven-county Chicago region. While Aurora is located in four counties, data is provided for Kane County because it contains the largest portion of the community.

Key Findings

• Aurora is second largest city in the State of Illinois • Rates of educational attainment in Aurora lag behind after the City of Chicago. According to the 2010 U.S. Kane County and the Region. While most Aurora Census, Aurora has a population of 197,899, which residents have a high school diploma (76.2 percent), exceeds the population of both Rockford and Joliet. the percentage of adults who have attained a bachelor’s • Driven by growth in nonwhite population groups, degree (31.0 percent) is lower than the Chicago Region Aurora’s population increased between 2000 and 2010. (36 percent). Aurora’s Hispanic population grew by approximately 76 • Few Aurora residents live and work in downtown. percent and Asian population rose by over 200 percent. Almost all workers employed in the downtown study These demographic shifts helped Aurora add nearly area live outside of it and only 51 workers live and 55,000 residents, an increase of roughly 38 percent. work downtown. • Aurora is a younger, middle-income community. With a median age of 31.5, Aurora‘s median age is about four years younger than the median age of Kane County. Aurora has a median household income of $62,493, which is similar to median household earnings in both Kane County and the Region.

Section 4: Transportation and Circulation 109 Aurora is the second largest city in the State of Illinois and has grown Aurora is a diverse community, as shown in Table 3. 41.3 percent of Aurora from 2000 to 2010. During this time period, Aurora’s population increased residents are Hispanic or Latino, which is higher than the percentage of by 38.4% percent to a base population of 197,899. Located in Chicago’s Hispanic or Latino residents in both Kane County (30.7 percent) and the far western suburbs, Aurora has benefited from an overall regional trend, Chicago Region (21.6 percent). From 2000 to 2010, Aurora’s diversity grew, where population growth is occurring in the region’s outskirts. Downtown with the Hispanic population increasing by 75.7 percent and the number Aurora has experienced an increase in population. of Asian residents increasing by over 200 percent. Despite the significant percent increase in Aurora’s Asian population, the overall proportion Aurora’s average household size is comparable to Kane County’s but of Asian residents remained small at 6.6 percent of total population. In higher than the Chicago Region’s. Aurora has 62,564 households and Downtown Aurora, the population is more diverse than City as a whole, 1,704 are located within the downtown census blocks. With an average with a higher proportion of Hispanic or Latino and Black or African household size of 3.12, Aurora has a similar average household size to American residents. Kane County (2.98). Both Aurora and Kane County have larger average household sizes than the region, which has an average household size of 2.73. The downtown census blocks have a smaller average household size of 2.59.

Table 11.1. Population, households, and household size, 2010 Table 11.2. Population and change in population, 2000 and 2010 Downtown Aurora Kane Chicago Downtown Aurora Kane Chicago Aurora Aurora Census Blocks County Region Census Blocks County Region Population 4,602 197,899 515,269 8,431,386 Population, 2000 3,862 142,990 404,119 8,146,264 Households 1,704 62,564 170,479 3,088,156 Population, 2010 4,602 197,899 515,269 8,431,386 Average Household Size 2.59 3.12 2.98 2.73 Change, 2000-10 740 54,909 111,150 285,122 Source: 2010 U.S. Census, U.S. Census Bureau. Change as %, 2000-10 19.2% 38.4% 27.5% 3.5% Source: 2000 and 2010 U.S. Census, U.S. Census Bureau.

110 Downtown Aurora Master Plan Existing Conditions Report Table 11.3. Race and ethnicity, 2010 Downtown Aurora Aurora Kane County Chicago Region Census Blocks Count Percent Count Percent Count Percent Count Percent White 1,235 27.0% 78,924 39.9% 304,051 59.0% 4,486,557 53.2% Hispanic or Latino* 2,473 53.7% 81,809 41.3% 158,390 30.7% 1,823,609 21.6% Black or African American 752 16.3% 20,348 10.3% 27,819 5.4% 1,465,417 17.4% Asian 49 1.1% 13,105 6.6% 17,505 3.4% 513,694 6.1% Other** 93 2.0% 3,713 1.9% 7,504 1.5% 142,109 1.7% * includes Hispanic or Latino residents of any race ** includes American Indian and Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander, Some Other Race, and Two or more races Source: 2010 U.S. Census, U.S. Census Bureau.

Table 11.3. Race and ethnicity, 2010 Downtown Aurora Aurora Kane County Chicago Region Census Blocks Change in Percent Change in Percent Change in Percent Change in Percent Population Change Population Change Population Change Population Change White -290 -19.0% 4,467 6.0% 30,661 11.2% -200,702 -4.3% Hispanic or Latino* 793 47.2% 35,252 75.7% 62,466 65.1% 414,407 29.4% Black or African American 210 38.7% 4,959 32.2% 5,342 23.8% -72,117 -4.7% Asian 11 28.9% 8,792 203.8% 10,363 145.1% 137,701 36.6% Other** 16 20.8% 1,439 63.3% 2,318 44.7% 5,833 4.3% * includes Hispanic or Latino residents of any race ** includes American Indian and Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander, Some Other Race, and Two or more races Source: 2000 and 2010 U.S. Census, U.S. Census Bureau.

Section Title Here 111 Aurora’s population is distributed towards the younger age cohorts in With a median household income of $62,493, Aurora is a middle income comparison to Kane County and the Chicago Region. A higher percentage community and median earnings are similar to the Chicago Region of its residents are under 19 years of age (33.8 percent) than the ($62,447). The City has approximately 23 percent of households earning percentage of residents in Kane County (31.0 percent) and the Chicago between $25,000 and $49,999, which is the highest among income Region (27.4 percent). This trend is reflected in Aurora’s median age of intervals shown in Table 6. Aurora’s median household income is about 31.5, which is about four years younger than Kane County. Contributing to $7,000 less than Kane County’s, which can be attributed to the lower Aurora’s younger median age is the lower proportion of Aurora residents percentage of Aurora households earning greater than $100,000 (28.3 who are 65 years and older. Approximately 6.9 percent of Aurora residents percent) compared to Kane County (32.5 percent). Downtown Aurora has are 65 years and over, which is lower than the share of residents older the a significantly higher percentage of households earning less than $25,000 traditional retirement age in Kane County (10.2 percent) and the Chicago than the rest of the City. Region (11.7 percent). Most of downtown Aurora residents are under 34 years of age (52 percent).

Table 11.5. Age cohorts and median age, 2013 Table 11.6. Household Income, 2013 Downtown Downtown Aurora Census Aurora Kane County Chicago Region Aurora Census Aurora Kane County Chicago Region Blocks Blocks Count Percent Count Percent Count Percent Count Percent Count Percent Count Percent Count Percent Count Percent Under 19 Less than 910 27.8% 67,142 33.8% 160,917 31.0% 2,318,426 27.4% 505 37.8% 9,763 15.8% 25,051 14.7% 606,898 19.9% years $25,000 20 to 34 $25,000 to 794 24.2% 43,695 22.0% 97,805 18.9% 1,797,403 21.2% 419 31.4% 14,460 23.4% 35,141 20.6% 641,798 21.0% years $49,999 35 to 49 $50,000 to 644 19.6% 46,604 23.5% 113,912 22.0% 1,786,910 21.1% 181 13.5% 11,771 19.1% 31,112 18.3% 528,326 17.3% years $74,999 50 to 64 $75,000 to 546 16.7% 27,512 13.8% 92,529 17.8% 1,571,064 18.6% 93 7.0% 8,291 13.4% 23,652 13.9% 397,228 13.0% years $99,999 65 to 79 $100,000 to 200 6.1% 10,416 5.2% 40,113 7.7% 709,759 8.4% 103 7.7% 9,904 16.0% 30,699 18.0% 465,926 15.3% years $149,000 80 years $150,000 and 184 5.6% 3,357 1.7% 13,104 2.5% 276,206 3.3% 36 2.7% 7,598 12.3% 24,703 14.5% 410,196 13.4% and over over Median Age N/A 31.5 35.1 N/A Median Income N/A $62,493 $69,530 $62,447 * includes Hispanic or Latino residents of any race (2013) ** includes American Indian and Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander, Some Other Race, and Two or Source: 2009-2013 American Community Survey, U.S. Census Bureau. more races Source: 2010 U.S. Census, U.S. Census Bureau.

112 Downtown Aurora Master Plan Existing Conditions Report Aurora’s adult population has lower levels of educational attainment Aurora’s unemployment rate of 10.6% is slightly lower the Chicago Region’s compared to Kane County and the Chicago Region. 76.2 percent of unemployment rate of 11.0%. Downtown Aurora has an unemployment rate Aurora adults have obtained a high school diploma, which is lower than of 15.1 percent, which is higher than the unemployment rate citywide. the percentage in Kane County (82.8 percent) and the Chicago Region (86.4 percent). In regards to secondary education, the proportion of Table11.8. Employment Status Aurora adults with a bachelor’s degree (31.0 percent) is comparable to the Downtown percentage in Kane County (31.7 percent) but lower than the percentage in Aurora Census Aurora Kane County Chicago Region Blocks the Chicago Region (36.1 percent). Count Percent Count Percent Count Percent Count Percent Population, 2,722 100.0% 143,277 100.0% 387,834 100.0% 6,616,817 100.0% Table 11.7. Education Levels, 2013 16 + Downtown In labor 1,945 71.5% 105,783 73.8% 273,737 70.6% 4,512,014 68.2% Aurora Census Aurora Kane County Chicago Region force Blocks Employed 1,650 84.8% 94,518 89.4% 247,519 90.4% 4,001,000 88.7% Count Percent Count Percent Count Percent Count Percent Unemployed 294 15.1% 11,164 10.6% 26,053 9.5% 497,606 11.0% Population, 2,132 100.0% 119,047 100.0% 326,889 100.0% 5,582,476 100.0% Not in labor 25 + 827 30.4% 37,494 26.2% 114,097 29.4% 2,104,803 31.8% force High school Source: 2009-2013 American Community Survey, U.S. Census Bureau. diploma or 1,420 66.6% 90,720 76.2% 270,751 82.8% 4,824,125 86.4% higher Bachelor’s degree or 322 15.1% 36,956 31.0% 103,491 31.7% 2,015,618 36.1% higher Source: 2009-2013 American Community Survey, U.S. Census Bureau.

Section Title Here 113 Aurora workers are employed in a variety of industries, with the highest Table 11.9. Employment of Aurora Residents by Industry Sector, 2011 percentage of workers employed in manufacturing, retail trade, and health Aurora Kane County Chicago Region care and social assistance. Count Percent Count Percent Count Percent Manufacturing 8,936 13.1% 27,481 13.4% 338,715 9.9% Nine hundred and thirty workers with primary jobs live in downtown Retail Trade 8,282 12.2% 23,255 11.4% 360,760 10.5% Aurora. About one in three workers are employed within the City of Health Care and Social 7,246 10.6% 21,677 10.6% 436,605 12.7% Aurora while others commute to surrounding communities such as Assistance Naperville (7%), Batavia (5%), and Montgomery (3%). Sixty-one (7%) Administration and Support, residents are employed in the City of Chicago. Waste Management and 6,112 9.0% 15,104 7.4% 239,634 7.0% Remediation Educational Services 5,473 8.0% 18,718 9.1% 338,389 9.9% Professional, Scientific, and 5,254 7.7% 14,399 7.0% 270,668 7.9% Technical Services Accommodation and Food 4,582 6.7% 13,254 6.5% 244,775 7.1% Services Wholesale Trade 4,445 6.5% 14,964 7.3% 201,327 5.9% Finance and Insurance 3,717 5.5% 10,589 5.2% 204,871 6.0% Transportation and 2,657 3.9% 8,055 3.9% 148,474 4.3% Warehousing Other Services (excluding Public 2,155 3.2% 6,189 3.0% 124,729 3.6% Administration) Construction 1,979 2.9% 7,668 3.7% 101,639 3.0% Public Administration 1,935 2.8% 6,897 3.4% 134,679 3.9% Management of Companies and 1,640 2.4% 4,347 2.1% 72,789 2.1% Enterprises Information 1,307 1.9% 4,593 2.2% 80,261 2.3% Arts, Entertainment, and 1,227 1.8% 3,822 1.9% 61,695 1.8% Recreation Real Estate and Rental and 785 1.2% 2,276 1.1% 50,602 1.5% Leasing Utilities 317 0.5% 821 0.4% 14,208 0.4% Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing 64 0.1% 460 0.2% 3,204 0.1% and Hunting Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and 18 0.0% 101 0.0% 1,283 0.0% Gas Extraction Total Employed Population 68,131 204,670 3,429,307 *Note that the total employment figures reported in Table 11.9 are different from those in Tables 11.8 and 11.10. This discrepancy is due to the difficulty and variety of methods used to estimate employment from different sources. ** Chicago-Joliet-Naperville, IL-IN-WI MSA. Source: Longitudinal Employer-Household Dynamics, U.S. Census Bureau

114 Downtown Aurora Master Plan Existing Conditions Report I2

50 miles I2

Old Richmond Spring Wadsworth e Beach Fig 9.10 Where DHoarwvardnt«¬1o7w3 n Aurora Workers Live Mill Zion I2 Greenwood Ringwood Grove LaI2ke Park

Villa Creek e N e -

Capron P Wonder ¬59 U Employee/Sq. Mile (2013) I2 « Round Lake «¬173 Downtown Aurora Fox «¬132 Lindenhurst «¬131 Lake McCullom Lake Heights Third I2 Round I2 U Round P Lake -N I2 Johnsburg W Lake 1 - 5 Metra Station Lake Lake Beach Gurnee Waukegan I2 M ilw «¬134 -N I2 Bull I2 Park I2 N Total Number C GraS yslake 6 - 10 Metra Ra«¬1i2l 0LineVsalley McHenry Lakemoor City of Primary Jobs: I2 Round «¬120 Hainesville

I2 I2 Lake e North I2 11 - 25 6,338 AmtraWko Sotdastoiockn Chicago Volo 43 -N ¬ P I2 « I2 U I2 Holiday Park M i Prairie lw Hills Wauconda -N «¬21 I2 26 - 50 Amtrak Lines Grove Island Lake Green Lake I2 Oaks

InterstateUP /Expressway Libertyville Mettawa I2 -N W M McHenry i l County w - 5G1a r-d e7n5 N Lake Bluff I2 Marengo Oakwood I2 Prairie County Lakewood Hills Mundelein 76 - 94 «¬176 Lake «¬176 Hawthorn I2 £14 N ¤ ¬31 Woods C « S Table 11.10. Residence Location of Downtown Aurora Workers, I2 Vernon Lake U Barrington P Union Port «¬60 -N «¬47 I2 Indian Hills Forest Barrington Source: U.S. Census Bureau, OnTheMap Application and LEHD U 12 P £ -N ¤ 2013 Crystal W I2 Highwood Kildeer Creek I2

Origin-Destination Employment Statistics Lake Fox River Tower I2 Buffalo e Long Cary I2 Grove Lakes Bannockburn (Beginning of Quarter Employment, 2nd Quarter of 2013).� Trout Valley Grove I2

Grove i l Deer I2 w - I2 Lake Lincolnshire N Total Primary Jobs Count Percent Lake in North «¬22 Park Zurich Riverwoods the Hills Barrington I2 UP -N W Barrington Highland By Municipality Algonquin «¬53 I2 I2 Park I2 Deerfield I2 I2 I2 I2

U Barrington Hills P Huntley -N Aurora city, IL 1,679 26.5% 94 Glencoe I2 ¨¦§ I2 Gilberts UP ¬68 - 68 N ¬ « Northbrook W «

Wheeling I2 Northfield Inverness e I2

N Palatine C M i Sleepy Carpentersville S l Naperville city, IL 324 5.1% Kingston w - I2 Arlington N Winnetka Pingree Hollow Prospect I2 Heights Kenilworth Grove ¬83 Heights I2 I2 «¬68 I2 « ¬72 I2 « Hampshire 25 mi Oswego village, IL 279 4.4% Genoa West South Barrington Glenview I2 ¬72 «¬53 I2 Mount « I2 Dundee East Rolling Wilmette UP Prospect - I2 ¬72 NW « Meadows Burlington Dundee Golf I2 Chicago city, IL 241 3.8% I2 I2 §90 «¬21 I2 Hoffman Estates ¨¦ ¤£20 I2 I2 «¬25 «¬58 Morton I2 P 62 a Grove ¬ c M « if e ic tr N a Sycamore o U r n 58 Montgomery village, IL 203 3.2% t io I2 ¬ I2 h n « I2 w Des M e st e L t i r n a e

N Evanston I2 o

r t h I2 Elgin Plaines C Skokie Streamwood e M U n i l P t w r - N Schaumburg a - N l Niles

r v

i c I2 e I2 Joliet city, IL 178 2.8% L

i M n 23 ilw e ¬ - « W

Roselle Elk Grove Village Park I2

Campton I2 South e I2

¬64 I2 Ridge I2 « U P e - Lincolnwood 59 N ¬ I2 M Rosemont « ilw- W North Aurora village, IL 148 2.3% Hills Elgin I2 W I2 Itasca Wood Harwood I2 I2 I2 I2 Virgil Schiller Heights I2 ¬25 I2 Dale I2 « Bartlett Hanover I2 Park I2 NorridgeI2

Met Yorkville city, IL 148 2.3% I2 r a M il wau kee I2 Park Di st rict We st L I2 Wayne ine £41 Lily Bloomingdale «¬19 ¤

D Elmwood N I2 M -

Northlake P i Kane Bensenville l Lake U Cortland w P U

-N

R - I2 M N W I2 ilw-W , NCS Park

Batavia city, IL 111 1.8% Franklin RivI2er K DeKalb Maple R Addison Park Grove I2 I2

County Carol Stone I2 I2 O

Park Y I2 I2 I2

I2 Milw-W, NCS «¬64 St. e Stream Park U P -N , Elmhurst Sugar Grove village, IL 100 1.6% U Berkeley P 64 - ne ¬ Oak N Glendale st Li e « W Charles ic W n P acif r a Unio I2 River ¬38 Met « I2 DeKalb I2 Park Heights I2 Forest Milw-N, M ilw-W, NCS Winfield I2 P -W I2 I2 I2 I2 I2 U I2 I2 Geneva I2 Melrose Bellwood I2 I2 UP -W 1UP -W 0 Maywood I2 I2 West I2 Villa I2 All Other Locations 2,927 46.2% I2 Lombard Park Broadview I2 County Chicago UP -W Park Berwyn I2 Elburn I2 I2 Hillside 290 I2 Glen ¨¦§ I2 «¬47 Wheaton Oakbrook La Grange I2 I2 Ellyn F S I2 Batavia Park «¬171 Cicero BN Terrace I2 Kaneville Oak Forest I2

E Brookfield North I2 l e DuPage c I2 I2 t r PaI2rk ic , Brook Forest S Riverside .

Westmont S I2 e ag h Westchester rit o 56 e r By County H ¬ e « I2 I2 Clarendon I2 Riverside View I2I2 County S F I2 WesterBNn La

. I2

s I Hills I2

Lyons k c

5 o North Grange Springs Stickney R Lisle I2 I2 Countryside I2 Kane County, IL 2,321 36.6% Big Rock Aurora Downers Grove I2

I2 BNS F I2 I2 I2 88 Warrenville I2 I2 I2 I2 Hinsdale I2 e F S I2 BN Hodgkins Summit ¨¦§ S Chicago W S I2

Waterman Hinckley I2 Willowbrook McCook e I2 ¬53 ¬83 Bridgeview DuPage County, IL 907 14.3% F « « BNS Naperville I2 Sugar e g Bedford Park ta i r e Aurora Indian H I2 «¬56 Grove I2 Darien Head Park 294 I2 ¨¦§ Justice I2 Kendall County, IL 903 14.2% Montgomery 355 Woodridge I2 ¨¦§ Burr Burbank I2 I2 I2 Ridge I2 Chicago I2 S I2 W Hometown S I2 Ridge Evergreen I2 I2 Cook County, IL 702 11.1% I2 I2 ¤£30 Willow Hickory Park I2 Hills I2 I2

Springs I2 Oak I2 e e g I2 ta Merrionette i I2 r e H Cook Yorkville Palos I2 I2 Will County, IL 693 10.9% I2 Lawn Park I2 Plano I2 n Hills I2 i a c i

Bolingbrook M r Worth - t . c s I2 I e l

k E

c I2 o Romeoville County R I2 I2 I2 I2 I2 I2 I2 e n Oswego i Plainfield I2 Palos L Alsip DeKalb County, IL 199 3.1% Riverdale n 59 Blue i Somonauk «¬ a 55 I2 I2 M Sandwich - Lemont c Heights i r

§ Island c I2 ¨¦ e Palos l ¤£34 I2I2 E S W Park S «¬50 Calumet I2 I2 LaSalle County, IL 71 1.1% e g

a 43 t ¬ i « r Park e Robbins

H I2 ¬126 I2 Midlothian Dixmoor « I2 Crestwood I2 Homer Phoenix

McHenry County, IL 61 1.0% Millbrook ¬171 Orland Oak Harvey e « Posen Glen I2 Orland I2 Dolton Park Forest I2 «¬126 Hills Hazel Country Markham

7 . ¬ Is « Crest Club Hills Kendall k c Lake County, IL 58 0.9% o Thornton Lockport R I2 East Hazel I2 South Millington County I2 Crest I2 Holland Crest Tinley I2 I2 I2 Grundy County, IL 42 0.7% e n Park i L

e n g i Hill Homea wood a t i M r New - e c i 1 H r ¬ t «

57 c e l

I2 Newark «¬59 I2 § E ¨¦ e «¬47 Lenox I2 . Is ck All Other Locations 381 6.0% Sheridan ¬53 RMo okena Flossmoor Glenwood

« Ro I2 ck

Plattville Joliet Is. S W S e I2I2 I2 «¬71 Shorewood Matteson *Primary jobs include public and private-sector jobs. A primary job is an individual’s highest Rockdale Will I2 Chicago I2 Heights £52 I2 paying job. ¤ I2 Olympia Frankfort Lisbon County I2 I2 Richton Park Park Fields e n i

L 80 n i a § M Forest Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Center for Economic Studies ¨¦ - c i South r t Steger Minooka c e l La Salle E Channahon Chicago Manhattan I2 Heights Elwood S Crete W County S ¤£45

Figure 11.1. Residence Location of Downtown Aurora Workers, 2013 I2 Monee ¤£6 University Grundy Park «¬394 «¬53

County e Beecher Seneca Morris Ottawa Marseilles Wilmington Peotone «¬1 Symerton I Section Title Here «¬47 115 Miles Coal Carbon 0 2.5 5 10 «¬170 Hill City «¬129 Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning, 2015.

e e

I2 I2 I2 I2 N C S Grayslake Park City Waukegan Wonder I2 Round Fig 9.9 Where Downtown AuroraB uEllmployed Residents Work «¬120 Hainesville Green

Lake Lakemoor Lake I2 McHenry e Oaks I2 ¬120 Valley Park Gurnee North « N Volo - I2 Chicago P I2 U

I2 DowntoHwolnid aAy urora M i Round lw Prairie - Wauconda N I2 Jobs/Sq. Mile (2013) Woodstock Grove Hills Lake «¬137 «¬43 I2 Metra Station «¬83 1 - 5 I2 «¬131

U P Libertyville I2 -N Island M Total Number W i l w

- 6 - 10 Metra RailLa kLe ines Mundelein N Lake Bluff of PrimMarcyH Joebsn: r93y0 Oakwood Lake I2 I2 Hills Tower «¬21 Mareng1o1 - 1«¬1576 «¬17A6mtrak Station «¬60 I2 N Port Lakes County C I2 S Vernon Lake County U Indian P - 16 U- n2io0n Barrington Hawthorn N I2 Amtrak Lines Creek Hills Forest UP Woods -N Mettawa Crystal W I2 Highwood >20 Kildeer I2

«¬47 Lake Fox River Lake I2 Table 11.11. Employment Location of Downtown e Long Buffalo CInartyerI2state/GExropvreessway Bannockburn Barrington Grove I2 Grove M i l I2 w - Aurora residents, 2013. Lakewood I2 Lake Lincolnshire N Source: U.S. Census Bureau, OnTheMap Application and LEHD North «¬22 Highland Origin-Destination Employment Statistics Zurich I2 Lake in the Hills Trout Barrington Park U P -N (Beginning of Quarter Employment, 2nd Quarter of 2013).� Valley W Barrington Count Percent Algonquin «¬53 I2 I2 I2 Deerfield I2 Deer Park Huntley I2 I2 I2 U P - Riverwoods 94 N Total Primary Jobs 930 100.0% Barrington § Glencoe I2 ¨¦ I2

UP 68 - ¬ Gilberts N « Hills W «¬68 «¬53 Northbrook

Wheeling I2 Inverness e I2 Aurora city, IL 287 30.9%

N Palatine M C i Carpentersville S l w

- «¬62 I2 N Winnetka Pingree Prospect I2 Sleepy «¬68 Kenilworth Grove ¬83 Heights I2 Northfield Naperville city, IL 92 6.7% South « I2 Hollow I2 I2 Hampshire Barrington Arlington Glenview I2 ¬72 West I2 Mount « Heights I2 U Wilmette 90 P Prospect I2 - I2 ¨¦§ Dundee «¬72 NW Chicago city, IL 61 6.6% Burlington Golf I2 I2 «¬21 East I2 I2 25 mi Rolling Evanston Hoffman Estates «¬25 Dundee Meadows I2 Morton I2 Batavia city, IL 42 4.5% ¬58 « P I2 a M ci Grove f e Elgin ic tr N a o U 58 r n I2 ¬ th i 14 o £ « w n ¤ I2 I2 e Des M s t e L t in r e a

I2 N o r Montgomery village, IL 27 2.9% t h Plaines I2 C Skokie Streamwood e M U n i

20 P £ l w ¤ t r - Schaumburg N a - N l Niles S

r v

i c I2 I2 e

i M n i Elk Grove e lw -W Roselle Park I2 Geneva city, IL 23 2.5%

Campton South Village Bensenville I2 e I2

Elgin I2 Ridge I2 U Lincolnwood 59 P - ¬ e N « I2 Mi Hills I2 lw -W W I2 Wood Harwood I2 I2 I2 Itasca I2 North Aurora village, IL 22 2.4% Heights Norridge I2 ¬25 I2 Dale Rosemont I2 « Bartlett Hanover I2 Schiller I2 I2

Met I2 ra M ilw Park au Park ke I2 e D St. Charles city, IL 22 2.4% ist rict W e st L I2

Virgil Lily Wayne Bloomingdale Glendale in e «¬19 D

M N I2 -

i P l Lake w U P U - -N

N R Kane I2 I2 W Heights Milw - W «¬31 Franklin , NCS «¬43 £41

I2 ¤ K R Bolingbrook village, IL 21 2.3% Park River I2 I2

Maple Addison I2 O Y I2 County St. Carol 294 Grove I2 I2 I2 § Milw -W, NCS

Park ¨¦ I2

«¬47 Northlake Charles e Stream U P - 64 N 64 Elmhurst ¬ , ¬ Elmwood « West Chicago city, IL 19 2.0% « U Berkeley P - ne Oak N t Li fic Wes W n P aci a Un io I2 Park River Elburn Metr I2 I2 Stone Park Park I2 Forest Milw -N, M ilw-W, NC S Winfield I2 UP-W I2 I2 Geneva MaywI2ood I2 I2 I2 I2 I2 Melrose Bellwood I2 I2 UP-W UP-W Forest I2 All Other Locations I2 «¬38 West I2 Villa I2 I2 344 37.0% I2 Lombard Park I2 Chicago Park UP-W Park I2 I2 I2 Glen Hillside 290 Cook I2 Westchester ¨¦§ I2 I2 Source: Longitudinal Employer-Household Dynamics Wheaton Ellyn Oakbrook I2 SF I2 Batavia 10 County BN Terrace Brookfield I2 Kaneville Oak I2

Broadview E I2 Cicero l e DuPage c La Grange I2 I2 t r North Riverside i I2 c , Brook S . Riverside S Westmont I2 e Park a g h 56 rit o ¬ e r H « e I2 I2 Clarendon I2 County I2 I2I2 Berwyn Warrenville F

WesterBnNS La I2

. s

Lyons I

Downers Hills I2

k c

North Springs Grange Stickney o

I2 R 5 I2 I2 Big Rock Sugar Aurora Grove I2 McCook

I2 I2 I2 BNSF I2 I2 I2 I2 I2 88 Hinsdale I2 Forest e SF Lisle I2 Grove N B Hodgkins Summit

¨¦§ S W View S I2

I2 Willowbrook e Aurora I2 Indian Head Park Countryside Bridgeview BNSF ¬83 ¬56 « I2 I2 Table 11.18 Housing and Transportation Costs as Percent of Income « Naperville Chicago I2 e Bedford Park g ta i r e I2 I2 I2 Darien H I2 ¤£12 I2 I2 per Household ¬31 I2 Montgomery « 355 Woodridge I2 ¤£34 ¨¦§ Burr Justice Burbank I2 I2 I2 I2 Ridge I2 Chicago I2 S I2 W Hometown Hickory S I2 I2 «¬53 Ridge Evergreen I2 I2 I2 Hammond Downtown Kane Chicago Hills I2 Willow Park I2 Aurora £30 Oak I2 I2

¤ «¬171 I2

Springs I2 Census Blocks County Region e Bolingbrook g e I2 ta Merrionette I2 ri e Lawn Yorkville H Palos I2 I2 I2 Park I2 Whiting Plano I2 n I2 i Hills c a

r M t - . I2 Worth c s e Housing Costs as percent I l

E k

c I2 o R I2 I2 I2 I2 I2 21% 31% 35% 34% I2 I2 e n Oswego Palos Palos Alsip i L Plainfield 55 I2 Blue

n 59 i «¬ § a of income ¨¦ M I2 Park I2 - Heights c S. S h o Lemont Island i re r

t I2 c e

l Sandwich Romeoville Robbins I2I2 E S I2 W S Calumet Park I2 Crestwood I2 e

g Riverdale Transportation Costs as

i Burnham

e H Lockport Dixmoor I2 19% 21% 22% 19% ¬126 I2 Posen Calumet City « MidlothiI2an Dolton Homer I2 percent of income

Millbrook «¬171 Orland Oak Harvey e Glen I2 Orland I2 Phoenix «¬83 Park Forest I2 Markham South «¬71 «¬126 Hills East Hazel “H+T” Costs as percent

. Holland 7 s ¬ I Kendall « 40% 52% 57% 53% k c o R Crest Crest I2 I2 Thornton of income County Hill I2 I2 Munster Tinley Country Lansing I2 I2 ¬50 I2 « e n i Source: Center for Neighborhood Technology, “H+T Affordability Index”: http://htaindex.cnt.org/ L

e n Park i g Homewa ood a Club Hills t i M r - e New c 1 i ¬ H r « t c e

59 l ¬ E

Newark 47 « I2 map/# ¬ e « Lenox I2 s. Hazel I £6 k ¤ c o 83 R ¬ Mokena Flossmoor « Plattville «¬53 Crest R I2

ock Joliet I S Lynwood

s. W S e I2I2 I2 Shorewood Matteson Glenwood Ford Rockdale I2 Chicago ¤£52 80 ¤£45 Olympia I2 Heights Heights ¨¦§ I2 I2 Lisbon Fields Dyer Will Frankfort

I2 Richton Park I2 s Park a e

n i i 394 L ¬ «

n i n a

M Forest o - c i r South Steger t a County c e

l i n E Chicago i Sauk d

Channahon I2 l Manhattan l University n S

Heights I W Crete Village I Minooka Elwood S Park St. John

I2 Monee Figure 11.2. Employment Location of Downtown Aurora Residents, 2013

«¬53 ¨¦§57 e

Seneca Morris Grundy «¬1

Beecher County Peotone «¬47 Symerton I Wilmington 116 Downtown Aurora Master Plan Existing Conditions Report Miles 0 2.5 5 10 Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning, 2015. Table 11.15 Housing Occupancy, 2013 Downtown Aurora Census Aurora Kane County Chicago Region Appendix: Housing Data Blocks Count Percent Count Percent Count Percent Count Percent 0-1 Bed- Table 11.12 Housing Type (Units) 920 52.6% 7,175 10.7% 15,022 8.2% 549,362 16.3% room Downtown 2 Bedrooms 376 21.5% 19,267 28.8% 46,310 25.4% 962,966 28.6% Aurora Census Aurora Kane County Chicago Region Blocks 3 Bedrooms 238 13.6% 24,710 36.9% 65,688 36.1% 1,135,910 33.7% Count Percent Count Percent Count Percent Count Percent 4 Bedrooms 152 8.7% 13,557 20.2% 45,641 25.1% 568,956 16.9% 5+ Bed- Total 1,739 100.0% 66,827 100.0% 180,830 100.0% 3,342,673 100.0% 62 3.5% 2,248 3.4% 9,484 5.2% 152,247 4.5% rooms Single, 459 26.4% 39,802 59.6% 125,470 69.4% 1,681,097 50.3% detached Source: 2009-2013 American Community Survey, U.S. Census Bureau. Single, at- 31 1.8% 9,754 14.6% 18,835 10.4% 258,105 7.7% Table 11.16 Housing Tenure, 2013 tached Downtown 2 Units 237 13.6% 3,550 5.3% 7,762 4.3% 239,024 7.2% Aurora Census Aurora Kane County Chicago Region 3 to 4 Units 180 10.4% 3,241 4.8% 7,374 4.1% 285,785 8.5% Blocks 5+ Units 832 47.8% 10,480 15.7% 21,389 11.8% 878,662 26.3% Count Percent Count Percent Count Percent Count Percent Source: 2009-2013 American Community Survey, U.S. Census Bureau. Total Occu- 1,383 100.0% 61,787 100.0% 170,358 100.0% 3,050,372 100.0% pied Units Owner- 425 30.7% 42,722 69.1% 128,377 75.4% 1,955,385 65.4% Table 11.13 Housing Age, 2013 Occupied Downtown Renter- 958 69.3% 19,065 30.9% 41,981 24.6% 1,054,987 34.6% Aurora Census Aurora Kane County Chicago Region Occupied Blocks Source: 2009-2013 American Community Survey, U.S. Census Bureau. Count Percent Count Percent Count Percent Count Percent Built 2000 Table 11.17 Housing Value, 2013 85 4.9% 12,706 19.0% 40,891 22.4% 398,379 11.8% or later Downtown Built 1970 Aurora Census Aurora Kane County Chicago Region 271 15.5% 27,498 41.1% 70,378 38.6% 1,119,962 33.2% to 1999 Blocks Built 1940 Count Percent Count Percent Count Percent Count Percent 385 22.0% 13,508 20.2% 42,092 23.1% 1,067,473 31.7% to 1969 Less than 111 27.7% 6,152 14.4% 12,140 9.5 196,671 9.9% Built Before $100,000 1006 57.6% 13,245 19.8% 28,784 15.8% 783,627 23.3% 1940 $100,000 to 133 33.2% 8,396 19.7% 16,896 13.2% 239,319 12.0% Median $149,999 Before 1940 1980 1979 1966 Year Built $150,000 to 93 23.2% 10,015 23.4% 25,750 20.1% 345,393 17.3% $199,999 Source: 2009-2013 American Community Survey, U.S. Census Bureau. $200,000 to 45 11.2% 10,937 25.6% 37,124 28.9% 535,756 26.8% $299,999 $300,000 to 19 4.7% 6,360 14.9% 28,258 22.0% 453,589 22.7% $499,999 $500,000 or 0 0.0% 862 2.0% 8,290 6.4% 224,657 11.3% more Median value $132,972 $181,500 $223,100 $236,767

Section Title Here Source: 2009-2013 American Community Survey, U.S. Census Bureau. 117 Appendix: Zoning Table

Table 11.19 Key characteristics of zoning districts in Downtown Aurora, 2015 Zoning Classification Examples of Permitted Uses Height Restrictions Area Regulations Setbacks Parking and Vehicular Access DOWNTOWN CORE Surface parking is only allowed in the rear Professional offices and services; No restrictions on No restrictions on mini- (DC) Exterior yard, 5 feet; river yard of a zoning lot; for business or pro- government offices, retail stores; maximum height mum lot area, minimum yard, 15 feet; between parking fessional offices 1 off street parking space light industry; financial institutions; with exceptions pro- lot width, ground floor lot and river, 15 feet; between is required per 300 sq. ft. of gross floor performing arts establishments; vided in the Aurora coverage, or maximum building and river, 15 feet. area. Stores must have 1 parking space for residential units above the first floor. Building Code. floor area. every 200 sq. ft. DOWNTOWN FRINGE No restrictions on mini- Allows for more land uses than the No setbacks required except (DF) No restrictions on mum lot area, minimum Surface parking allowed in the rear of zon- Downtown Core (DC). Examples for the following: parking maximum height lot width, maximum ing lots. Off street parking requirements include retail stores, professional/ lots with an exterior yard, 5 with exceptions pro- ground coverage, mini- depend on the type of use. For office/pro- office, educational institutions, feet; lots with a river yard, 15 vided in the Aurora mum ground floor area fessional uses, 1 parking space per 300 sq. contractor’s offices, restaurants, and feet. For buildings with a river building code. per building, or maximum ft. of gross floor area is required. entertainment establishments. yard, 15 feet. floor area. Source: Center for Neighborhood Technology, “H+T Affordability Index”: http://htaindex.cnt.org/map/#

Appendix: Health and Safety

Table 11.25 Neighborhood groups in the study area Name Boundaries Meetings Contact Location Good Samaritan North Ave., 2nd St., S. East Ave., New York St., N. Lincoln Ave., 4th Monday of each David Smith Main Baptist Church Community Spring St., month, 6:30pm North Ave., S. Lasalle Ct., Bluff St., S. Lincoln Av., Marion Ave, S. 4th Ward TomCats 4th St., Ashland Ave., 5th St., Sherman Ave., Montgomery Rd., 3 times yearly, 7pm. Bill Donnell, Alderman. Bardwell School - Door 9 Lafayette St., Melrose Ave., Elliot Ave., Keck Ave. Rathbone Ave., S. Elwood Dr., Ridgeway Ave., Woodlawn Ave., Southwest Contact for more Gale St., S. River St., North Ave., Ashland Ave, Grey Ave., Terry Bill Donnell, Alderman. Neighbors information Ave. Boulevard District Edgelawn Dr., Prairie St., Woodlawn Ave., Gale St, S. River St., 3 times a year, 7:00 p.m. Bill Donnell, Alderman. New England Congregational Church Neighbors North Ave., W. Benton St., S. Locust St., W. Galena Bl. Source: City of Aurora, 2016.

118 Downtown Aurora Master Plan Existing Conditions Report NN

SS Stolp Island Historic District Walking Tour AA LL I LL

SS T TT CE ST SPRU

N ST RK RR W YO II NE V E EE 1 Historic Walking Tour RR 1 22

SS 22 TT

EY ST PINN N

T B ORK S NEW Y R W O

The following pages show an updated version of W

A the city’s existing Historic Walking Tour of the Y downtown area from Aurora’s Historic Preservation 2121

Commission: https://aurora-il.org/historicpreservation/

T S hist_stolpisland.php

R 2 E V 2 BLVD

I A GALEN

R E

N 1919 2020 BLVD 4 LENA 3 4 2323 W GA 3

E E 5

N LL 6 PP

TT 16

YY 16 18 OO 18 17

H 17 H L NER P OWN 77 E D S

1155 R R PL O OWNER W D 10 A 9 10 D 9 W

A SS Y E E SS

V V TT

A O A # Name Year built O

Num Name Year

E L E 8 L

L P L 8 P 1 New York Street Memorial Bridge 1931

D D A

D V D V

I I 14 12 14 2 Aurora Hotel WW 1917 EE 12

M 13 3 Leland Tow er AA 1928 TT

13 EE

T S

RR 4 Block & Kuhl Store 1928

R SS

5 Stanley FurnitureTT 1925

E V I

R ST

E BENTON 6 The Keystone Building 1923

S 7 The Sherer Building 1910 8 Stolp Woolen Mill Dye House 1858 9 Metropolitan Business College 1915 ST TON 10 Stolp Woolen Mill Store 1861 BEN W 11 US Post Office 1930 11 12 Illinois Bell 1930 11 13 Benevolent and Protective Order of the 1926 14 Columbia Conservatory of Music 1907 15 Grand Army of the Republic Memorial H 1877 16 Fox TheTatre Building 1910 LARK S 17 CALurora Herald / Freemasons Building 1866 18 Graham Building 1926 19 Sesquicentennial Park 1987 20 Paramount Arts Centre 1931 21 Hotel Arthur / Terminal Building 1905 Section Title Here 119 0 50 100 200 Feet 22 E.D. Huntoon House 1835 23 Hobbs Building 1892 Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning, 2015. Stolp Island National Register Historic District

National Register Historic District: 1986 Listed on the National Register of Historic Places Historic District Self-guided Walking Tour

Stolp Island is located in the Fox River, at a site where the river drops steeply. This drop is what gave the McCarty Brothers, Joseph Stolp, and Zaphna Lake the waterpower source they desired for their milling businesses. The Fox River, although an excellent power source and motivator for industrial development, had a disruptive influence on commercial and residential development causing rivalry between the growing settlements on the east and west banks. It was because of these rivalries that Stolp Island became the neutral territory for Aurora’s public buildings and other private organizations. The National Register Historic District includes good examples of the works of nationally known architects, and unique architectural styles. Due to its central location in the growing community, Stolp Island became a functional transportation link as well as an emotional link between Aurora’s east and west sides. W Frederick Stolp bought this island for $12.72 in 1848. He later deeded the island to his nephew, Joseph Stolp, who built a woolen mill.

If you think of Stolp Island as an outdoor museum of architecture, one of the finest exhibits is the terra cotta. Essentially a fired clay product, terra cotta was often used with glazes of various colors and textures. It was a versatile and inexpensive building material that was used to form elaborate details, or to simulate expensive stone such as granite and limestone. Buildings clad with architectural terra cotta were originally called “china front” buildings. In America, this building material was first used in Chicago in 1895. Terra cotta’s primary appeal was its ability to adapt to the variety of elaborate revival architectural styles in vogue at the time.

1 New York Street Memorial Bridge, 1931 New York Street (between Route 25 and Route 31)

Built in the Art Moderne style, the bridge was dedicated on Armistice Day, November 11, 1931, as a memorial to World War I veterans. Unlike Stolp Island’s other bridges, the New York Street bridge structure spans the entire channel of the Fox River. The genius behind the bridge’s design was sculptor, Emory Seidel. He planned the entire bridge as a memorial integrating the kneeling statues of “Memory” into the concrete structure at the pylons. He also created the bronze statue of “Victory”, the eagle statues, and the Armed Services bas-relief located in the statuary niches at the center of the span. His limestone relief below the “Victory” statue depicts a family in peacetime.

Aurora Hotel, 1917 2 2 N. Stolp Avenue

The eight-story hotel was the tallest building on Stolp Island when it was constructed in 1917. The first large hotel in the city, it represented an effort by the citizens who developed it to elevate Aurora’s position as a center of commerce. This organization (Aurora Island Hotel Corporation) was responsible for many of the projects which made Stolp Island a commercial center. The building was in a severely deteriorated condition until it was saved by a grass roots effort in 1996. The remarkably restored building is 120 Downtown Aurora Master Plan Existing Conditions Report now used as apartments for senior citizens. Leland Tower, 1928 3 7 S. Stolp Avenue

Constructed in 1928 as a first-class hotel and entertainment center, the Leland building is twenty-two stories high. When built, it was the tallest building in Illinois outside of Chicago. It was designed by Anker Sveere Graven and Arthur Guy Mayger of Chicago. The architects called their building “a modern adaptation of the Italian Romanesque style”. It is now being used as an apartment building.

Block & Kuhl Store, 1928 4 5 E. Galena Boulevard

This building was originally the Block & Kuhl Store, constructed in 1928 by the Aurora Development Company. It became the home for the Carson Pirie & Scott store in 1961. After a major remodeling , the Waubonsee College Extension Center opened in 1986. Notice the architectural terra cotta cladding, prism glass transoms above the storefronts, and Chicago style windows on the second and third floor incorporating a fixed center glass with two adjacent operable windows. (photo by Flickr user David Wilson)

Stanley Furniture, 1925 5 14-20 S. Stolp Avenue

Built about 1925, the former Stanley Furniture store is noted for its white terra cotta facade. The building is actually two, with the terra cotta of the southern “half” being slightly creamy in color. There are four terra cotta lion heads placed between window openings at the second story level that served as canopy hooks.

The Keystone Building, 1923 6 30 S. Stolp Avenue

The Keystone Building is one of two Stolp Island works by architect George Grant Elmslie. It is a relatively rare example of the Prairie School style used for an office building, and is listed individually on the National Register of Historic Places. Notice the subtle coloring of blue and gold in the organic terra cotta detailing. This type of decorative motif was originally developed by Louis Sullivan, Elmslie’s former employer. (photo by Flickr user David Wilson) 7 Sherer Building, 1910 9-15 W. Downer Place

The triangle shaped Sherer Building was constructed in 1910, and designed Section Title Here by architect Eugene Malmer. Notice the multi-colored terra cotta “S” at the 121 parapet 8 Stolp Woolen Mill Dye House c.1858 20 W. Downer Place

Dating from 1858 to 1860, the dye house is the oldest building on Stolp Island. It is located on a lower level behind the Metropolitan Business College building. The building has a coursed limestone foundation and simple arched windows that face the river. Its lack of ornamentation identifies it as an early industrial building. It is the oldest building on Stolp Island. (image courtesy of Google Streetview) 9 Metropolitan Business College, c.1915 8-16 W. Downer Place

This building represents the development of the island in the early portion of the twentieth century, c. 1915. The parapet detail design and the window detailing appear to be from the same architect, Eugene Malmer, who designed the earlier Sherer Building across the street. Both buildings were owned by Joseph Stolp Sherer, grandson of early pioneer Joseph Stolp. It was constructed in glazed brick.

Stolp Woolen Mill Store, 1860-61 10 2 W. Downer Place

Built by Joseph Stolp in 1860-61, 11 years after he built a woolen mill to the west of the store site. The store was constructed to sell those goods which were not shipped across the country for sale. It is listed individually on the National Register of Historic Places. (image courtesy of Google Streetview)

United States Post Office, c.1930 11 18 W. Benton Street

The Post Office building is an arcaded block building, featuring a series of evenly spaced, round arched window openings. It is a commercial style that was popular during the early 20th century, and was derived from the great arcaded porches built in Italy during the Renaissance. The gargoyle waterspouts and decorative detailing are fashioned in terra cotta. James Wetmore was the supervising architect. The building now houses SciTech, a science and technology center with over 200 hands-on exhibits. 12 Illinois Bell, c.1930 70-82 S. Stolp Avenue

One of the major commercial buildings on the island is the telephone company’s building on Stolp Avenue. Notice the keystone carved above the single window opening at the corners of the second floor and the keystone

122 Downtown Aurora Master Plan Existing Conditions Report motif decorating the metal first floor window framing. The chevron motif above the windows identifies it as an Art Moderne style. The top two floors and north bays are later additions. 13 Benevolent and Protective Order of the Elks, 1926 77 S. Stolp Avenue

Perhaps the most unusual building in Aurora, this 1926 Zimmerman, Saxe and Zimmerman design is one of the few examples of the use of Mayan Revival in the United States. The building was originally designed in the classical style. However, prior to the time sufficient funds were raised, the great archaeological finds in Central America were discovered and the design was changed. All of the Mayan gods and Mayan relief decorations are fashioned in terra cotta. The bulk of the building is faced with clinker brick, a brick too irregular for normal construction use. Columbia Conservatory of Music, c.1907 14 75 S. Stolp Avenue

This former conservatory was accredited by the State and conceded to be the best equipped school in Illinois and included schools of dancing, languages, art, music, dramatic art, and kindergarten. It is constructed of another popular substitute for stone, cast concrete.

(image courtesy of Google Streetview)

Grand Army of the Republic, (G.A.R.) Memorial Hall, 1877 15 23 E. Downer Place

The G.A.R. Memorial Hall was built in 1877 and is one of Aurora’s most widely recognized historic landmarks. The building was built as a library and meeting place to commemorate Civil War veterans. Constructed with locally quarried limestone, it is in the Gothic Revival style. The side tower was added in 1904. This building is a copy of a brick G.A.R. building in Foxboro, Massachusetts. Restoration of the building is planned for the future. Contact (630) 264-INFO for information on when the building will be open to the public. (image courtesy of Google Streetview) 16 Fox Theater Building , 1910 24-28 E. Downer Place

This building was remodeled in 1910 with a new brick and terra cotta facade. Notice the reclining terra cotta fox which is the centerpiece of a circular medallion on the second story. While all three bays are technically one building, later ownership has divided the building, hence the western most Section Title Here 123 bay has been painted. (image courtesy of Google Streetview) Aurora Herald/Freemasons Building/Ginsberg Store, 1866 17 20 E. Downer Place

This Italianate commercial structure was built in 1866. It originally housed the Aurora Herald, and Freemasons. Later it was the Ginsberg clothing store. Visible on the west side, facing the alley, are the original Italianate brackets under the eaves. Note the Masonic “eye” symbol carved into the top of the limestone wall. A massive pressed metal Italianate cornice has been removed. The building now features the collection of the Aurora Historical Society, and the Aurora Public Art Commission gallery. It was renamed after former Mayor David L. Pierce who was responsible for the building’s restoration. A joint gift shop is located on the first floor. Hours are Wednesday through Sunday, 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. (image courtesy of Google Streetview) Graham Building, 1926 18 33-35 S. Stolp Avenue

This is the other of Stolp Island’s two Prairie School style buildings designed by George Grant Elmslie. Constructed in 1926, the building is individually listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It is the only building that takes advantage of its river setting by duplicating street face ornamentation on its river side.

Sesquicentennial Park, 1987 19 23 E. Galena Boulevard

Architects of the original Paramount Theatre designed a park called Paramount Park on this same site. It existed from 1930 to 1934, containing paths, a pond, garden, and miniature golf. It was a restful retreat area available only to theater patrons. Redesigned and dedicated in November 1987, the Sesquicentennial Park features a sculpture entitled “City Lights, City Life” by Chicago artist Jerry Peart. (image courtesy of Google Streetview) 20 Paramount Arts Centre, 1931 23 E. Galena Boulevard

The Paramount Arts Centre was designed by George and C.W. Rapp in 1931. Rapp and Rapp are renowned for their opulent movie palaces including the Chicago Theater. The movie palace opened in 1931, a terra cotta and steel building with an exterior covering of face brick. The most significant portion of the exterior is the octagonal tower It is elaborately detailed in brick and colored, glazed terra cotta and capped by an orange tile roof. The interior combines Venetian murals with Art Deco detailing. Reopened after renovation in 1978, the Paramount is a prestigious cultural facility that serves the entire region, and offers a full season of world-class professional 124 Downtown Aurora Master Plan Existing Conditions Report entertainment. Call (630) 896-6666 for information the building and programming. Just outside the Stolp Island Historic District

21 Hotel Arthur / Terminal Building, 1905 2 N. Broadway

Designed by architect Eugene Malmer, this six-story pressed brick and Bedford stone 2nd Renaissance Revival building was once the tallest building in Aurora and one of the tallest in Illinois outside of Chicago. Malmer studied with William Le Baron Jenney, father of the skyscraper when he was a student in Chicago. In 1915, the building was leased to the Aurora, Elgin, and Chicago Railroad Company to serve as that company’s traction terminal station and main corporate offices. It is still often referred to as the “Terminal Building.” (image courtesy of Google Streetview) 22 E.D. Huntoon House, c.1835 31 N. Broadway

Built circa 1830, this former residence is believed to be the last remaining hand-hewn timber frame structure in the downtown. For decades the building was covered over with false fronts, masking its wood construction. The building was remodeled in 2001 to reflect its appearance as a Victorian commercial era building with an Italianate cornice and window hoods. 23 Hobbs Building, 1892 2 N. River Street

This Romanesque Revival building features an onion dome, intricate brick detailing in the semicircular arches over the third story windows, and decorative pressed metal on the piers. It was built in 1892 as a furniture store and loft building. A photo at the Aurora Historical Museum documents a man leaping from the top of the dome into a six-foot pool of water as a featured attraction at the 1910 Fourth of July Celebration.

The information in this document is from Aurora’s Historic Preservation Commission: Section Title Here https://aurora-il.org/historicpreservation/hist_stolpisland.php 125

Unless otherwise noted, photographs were taken by CMAP staff. Appendix: Pace Bus

Bus ridership data and recent route changes

Changes to Route Number and Weekday Saturday Sunday Changes to Route Links to Map and Schedule timing and Notes Name Ridership Ridership Ridership Timing only eliminated routing Pace 524 West http://www.pacebus.com/sub/schedules/route_ Route 524 extends north along Randall Road to serve 153 52 No Service No Yes No Aurora Circulator detail.asp?RouteNo=524 new destinations including Woodman′s. Pace 532 Illinois http://www.pacebus.com/sub/schedules/route_ Route 532 is converted to a peak-only commuter 73 35 No Service No Yes No Avenue detail.asp?RouteNo=532 service.

http://www.pacebus.com/sub/schedules/route_ Pace 533 Molitor 182 128 No Service No Yes No Route 533 has local routing changes and extends detail.asp?RouteNo=533 north to serve the Walmart Supercenter. Route 802 adds service to Mercy Medical Center and Pace 802 Aurora - http://www.pacebus.com/sub/schedules/route_ 265 130 No Service No Yes No adds a new northern branch running along Randall Geneva detail.asp?RouteNo=802 Road. Pace 530 West Route 530 is adjusted to make connections at the http://www.pacebus.com/sub/schedules/route_ Galena-Westfield 703 548 No Service Yes No No Aurora Transportation Center and expand evening detail.asp?RouteNo=530 Fox Valley Center hours. Pace 521 East http://www.pacebus.com/sub/schedules/route_ Route 521 is replaced by Routes 533, 540, and the 168 64 No Service No No Yes Circulator detail.asp?RouteNo=521 Southeast Aurora Call-n-Ride. Pace 528 Aurora http://www.pacebus.com/sub/schedules/route_ Tran. Ctr. - Rush- 81 No Service No Service No No Yes Route 528 is replaced by Route 540 and the detail.asp?RouteNo=528 Copley Med Southeast Aurora Call-n-Ride. Pace 529 Randall http://www.pacebus.com/sub/schedules/route_ Route 529 is replaced by Routes 802, 524, and the 246 134 No Service No No Yes Road - 5th Street detail.asp?RouteNo=529 Southeast Aurora Call-n-Ride. http://www.pacebus.com/pdf/C-n- Southeast Aurora R/SEA%20CnR%202015%20FV%20Schedule%20B --- Call-n-Ride ook.pdf

126 Downtown Aurora Master Plan Existing Conditions Report Appendix: Economy and Jobs Data Table 11.21 Quantity of property by type Table 11.20 Private Sector Employment* in 2002-2013 These assets offer much to build on when Quantity of Property byaddressing Type common challenges, including: Employment Sector 2002 2013 Percent 0.4% Use of the Fox River to enhance livability and Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation 179 664 270.9% 5.5% prosperity, including the revitalization of historic 20.2% downtowns. Educational Services 287 1,023 256.4% Office 15.7% Efficiently maintaining and improving the quality of Accommodation and Food Services 162 287 77.2% existing housing. Retail Transportation and Warehousing 5 8 60.0% Balancing greenfield development and redevelopment. Industrial** Health Care and Social Assistance 406 501 23.4% Meeting projected demandMulti-Family* for senior housing. Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services 279 191 -31.5% Growing while providing affordable housing Specialty Wholesale Trade 99 67 -32.3% opportunities for an increasingly diverse group of 19.0% 20.2%future residents. Hospitality Management of Companies and Enterprises 6 4 -33.3% The challenges the four communities face are not Construction 184 116 -37.0% unique. Many communitiesHealth that have Care been or will be profiled in Homes reports— Aurora, Batavia, Administration and Support, Waste Management 1,632 Geneva, Montgomery, North Aurora, and St. 944 -42.2% 19.1% and Remediation Charles — deal with similar issues. Collectively or Source: CMAP Analysis of CoStar Data, 2014. in sub-groups, Kane County Fox River communities Other Services (excluding Public Administration) 311 166 -46.6% have an opportunity to work together toward a *May not include all single family home conversions. prosperous future. What follows is a subregional Finance and Insurance 748 386 -48.4% **Includes flex properties. analysis of current conditions, a review of Retail Trade 341 167 -51.0% recent policy remedies, a look at the potential housing market, and recommendations for future Manufacturing 367 153 -58.3% subregional action that can build off of these strengths to address shared issues. Information 267 105 -60.7% Real Estate and Rental and Leasing 73 18 -75.3% Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction Utilities Total 5,346 4,800 -10.2% Source: LEHD 2002-2013 *Private sector employment excludes NAICS Sector 92 – Public Administration

Section Title Here 127 Table 11.22. Estimated Retail Sales by geographic area Downtown Western East- Aurora Aurora West Corridor Retail Space 753,005 7,029,888 21,471,925 Retail Trade Sales Estimate $25,614,426 $2,033,484,529 $7,548,109,788 Retail Sales P/SF Estimate $34.02 $289.26 $351.53 Source: CMAP Analysis of CoStar and ESRI Business Analyst Data 2014.

Table 11.23 Top Ten Occupation Sectors near Downtown Aurora in 2015* Occupation Workers in 2015 Average Hourly Earnings Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand 1,806 $12.07 Registered Nurses 929 $31.81 Office Clerks, General 900 $14.17 Retail Salespersons 890 $11.65 Cashiers 809 $9.97 Combined Food Preparation and Serving Workers, Including Fast Food 735 $9.07 Customer Service Representatives 616 $16.44 Team Assemblers 608 $12.41 Packers and Packagers, Hand 565 $10.50 Stock Clerks and Order Fillers 525 $11.63 Source: CMAP analysis of EMSI Data *This data includes occupations of workers from Aurora zip codes 60505 and 60506.

128 Downtown Aurora Master Plan Existing Conditions Report Table 11.6. Household Income, 2013 Western East-West Downtown Aurora City of Aurora Corridor Property Class RBA Percent RBA Percent RBA Percent A 0 0.0% 426,348 8.4% 11,562,530 31.5% B 334,558 43.9% 2,746,297 54.4% 18,764,833 51.1% C 427,470 56.1% 1,877,113 37.2% 6,399,625 17.4% Grand Total 762,028 100.0% 5,049,758 100.0% 36,726,988 100.0% Source: CMAP Analysis of CoStar Data

Figure 11.2. Vacancy rate for commercial real estate (downtown and citywide)

Section Title Here 129 233 South Wacker Drive, Suite 800 Chicago, IL 60606

312-454-0400 [email protected]

www.cmap.illinois.gov

130 FY1X-XXXXDowntownPhoto Aurora by MasterFlickr Plan user Existing David Conditions Wilson. Report