The City of Aurora recently approved an agreement with Visionary Ventures, NFP developers and West Aurora School Dist. 129 to transform two of the district’s former elementary school buildings into affordable workforce housing.
Aurora City Council approved $2.9 million from the city’s HOME Investment Partnerships allocation, and $600,000 from Community Development Block Grant funds, for a total project contribution of $3.5 million.
Both the Todd and Lincoln Elementary school sites which have sat vacant for years are to be redeveloped into Fox Valley Apartment complexes. Including a combination of 47 studio, and one-, two- and three-bedroom units, apartments will be available for lease by potential tenants making between $18,000 up to $63,000 a year, according to family size.
City officials say workforce housing is designed for working individuals and families who may make a little too much to qualify for direct assistance of low-income housing but don’t make quite enough to go into market-rate units. Eligible applicants must pass background checks and income-eligibility requirements, as authorized by the Illinois Housing Development Authority.
Additionally, the former Todd School site will house a new medical facility operated by Aurora’s local VNA Health Care clinic to further service West Aurora families, along with 3,500 square feet of building space dedicated to the West Aurora School District for student support services at no cost to the district.
TODD SCHOOL, 100 OAK AVE:
• Vacant Since 2019
• 11 apartments
• VNA Health Care-run medical facility
LINCOLN SCHOOL, 641 S. LAKE ST.
• Vacant since 2009
• 14 apartments in the current building
• 22 apartments to be added in a new development adjacent to the current lot