It was an historic and emotional day in Aurora recently when ground was broken on the first new public housing subdivision in nearly 50 years.
More than 150 participants and witnesses gathered on Aurora’s West Side to usher in the next era of public housing, with the launching of the 1449 Senior Estates community with 70 new ranch units, 50 duplexes and 20 single-family residences, with attached garages.
The senior citizens-only community will be on a nearly 13-acre site and will have pickleball courts, an outdoor community area, and on-site management offices.
During the ceremony, City leaders who were raised in Aurora public housing were in the spotlight, including Aurora mayor Richard C. Irvin, Cowherd Middle School principal Jackiey Gibson, the City’s chief communications & equity officer, Clayton Muhammad, and Michael Simelton, executive director of the Housing Authority of Joliet and the Hope United Foundation, a key partner in the $23 million development.
Hopeful senior citizens were in attendance to learn more about the initiatives and to view renderings of what might be their future homes.
Construction commenced immediately, and the project is expected to be completed by the end of 2024.
—City of Aurora government