Despite the coming loss of Hollywood Casino to the periphery, the City of Aurora’s ongoing efforts to revive its downtown core appear to be making progress.
In a social media post, the City is touting the availability of market rate apartments in the historic Terminal Building at Galena & Broadway and the historic Hobbs Building at Galena & River Street, two downtown buildings that have been “vacant for decades,” as proof of a revitalized core.
The upper floors of the Terminal Building, which have been vacant since the 1960s, have been converted to 20 luxury lofts (under the name “Lofts on Broadway”), 90% of which have already been leased.
The Hobbs Building, built in 1892, has 36 new apartments, 70% of which have been leased.
The release quoted a new downtown tenant. “I just signed my lease, and I can’t wait to move into my incredible new apartment next month.
“I look forward to stopping at my favorite downtown coffee shop each morning and checking out the local restaurants and shops regularly. And that fact that I can just walk a couple blocks to Metra and make it to the office in downtown Chicago in less than an hour is absolutely amazing.”
Meanwhile, the City’s Building, Zoning and Economic Development Committee last week unanimously recommended a plan for downtown apartments on the west side of the Fox River, directly across from RiverEdge, called Pacifica Riverview.
The development, proposed by Windfall Development, would be built on 2.34 acres and would offer 190 residential units comprised of studio, one-bedroom, two-bedroom and three-bedroom apartments, along with 10 row houses directly along the riverfront and approximately 2,000 square feet of retail space.
The plan now goes to the full City Council for final approval.
