City of Aurora economic development projects are focusing on commercial and residential.
That was the word February 19 from Aurora zoning and planning division director Tracey Vacek at Aurora Lions Club’s monthly luncheon meeting at Riverview Diner in Montgomery.
Vacek said key retail projects include:
•A Climate and Equitable Jobs Act workforce development hub launched January 20 at 649 S. River St.. The hub will offer classes to prepare students for jobs in clean energy.
•Saage Culinary Studio, opened Dec. 5 at 160 S. River St., offers cooking classes, a commissary kitchen and tea lounge.
•A new restaurant is to replace Leilani, formerly at 2 N. River St., by December.
•Mich Big Taco, 31 N. Broadway, opened in October.
•Vibez on the River, 29 W. New York St., is expected to open this month.
•Arthouse, 5 E. Galena Blvd., features sandwiches, salads and fried rice balls.
•Foreign Exchange, 110 Cross St., opened a brewery and plans to open Cross and Middle Apartments in March.
•Vicolo, an Italian restaurant, is coming to 7 S. Broadway this month.
•Scooter’s Coffee is coming soon to Sullivan Road and N. Lake St.
•El Vallartazo seafood restaurant, 1216-1218 N. Lake St., is scheduled to open late spring.
•Buffalo Wild Wings Go, 1535 Butterfield Rd., opened in October.
•Expansion of Riveredge Park, on north Broadway, is expected to be completed by June. The venue will feature a new VIP deck, new beverage stations and backstage facilities.
•The former Carson Pirie Scott store on north Lake Street has added a DMV location and a Sudz car wash with a future restaurant planned.
Residential projects include:
•A mixed-use development at Orchard and Sullivan roads to include retail, residential and restaurant spaces.
•Continental Properties has broken ground at the southwest corner of Orchard and Sullivan roads for a 320-unit community.
•Heyday, a 102-rental townhome community, is underway at Constitution Drive and Independence Drive.
•Harvest Point, 59 single-family homes, is planned by Pulte on Raddant Road north of Butterfield.
•Abby Meadows will feature 220 townhomes along Raddant Road at Mesa Lane extended.
•Redwood Apartment Neighborhoods plans 198 rental homes near Indian Trail and Randall roads.
•Lennar Prairies Meadows, 442 Cottrell Lane, plans 21 homes.
•DAC Developments is constructing 258 apartments at 100 N. Broadway.
•Aurora National Bank is proposing converting four upper floors to apartments.
•Pulte Homes will build 54 townhomes near Eola Road.
•Under construction at Ogden and Farnsworth avenues are 74 townhomes and 56 single-family homes.
•Hollywood Casino in downtown Aurora will be reimaged with demolition of the barge, building and walkway. The parking garage will remain. Construction is underway on the new casino on Aurora’s East side.
—Al Benson