Aurora City Council to Vote on 54-Unit Senior Housing Expansion as Demand Outpaces Supply
The Aurora Housing Authority is asking the city council to approve 54 new affordable senior housing units in phase two of 1449 Senior Estates, following overwhelming demand from a waitlist that drew 900 applications in three days.
Aurora seniors who want affordable housing have waited years for a spot. Now the Aurora Housing Authority wants to build more.
The housing authority is asking the Aurora City Council to approve a second phase of 1449 Senior Estates, an affordable senior housing development on Jericho Road. The expansion would add 54 new units to a neighborhood that already opened last year with 70 homes.
A public hearing on the annexation and development plans is set for Tuesday at 6 p.m. at City Hall, 44 E. Downer Place.
A waiting list that proved the need
When the first phase of 1449 Senior Estates opened its waitlist, the response was immediate.
"The Housing Authority received 900 applications in just three days, confirming the community's tremendous need," said Joe Grisson III, the Aurora Housing Authority's board chair.
Grisson said the authority began planning the development as early as 2017 after recognizing the growing shortage of affordable housing for older residents.
"Simply put, there has been a housing shortage. We are meeting some of those needs for the senior community, by continuing to build quality and affordable housing," Grisson said.
What phase two looks like
Initial plans call for 12 duplexes and 10 triplexes on a nearly 14-acre stretch of land just west of the current development at 1449 Jericho Road. The site is not yet within Aurora city limits, so the council must first vote to annex the land.
Of the 54 proposed units, 43 would be one-bedroom homes and the remainder would be two-bedroom units, according to a city staff report.
The development would include:
- Premium vinyl siding with brick accents on the exterior
- Attached garages for each home
- Ceiling fans and hardwired internet and cable connections
- Construction built to U.S. Green Building Council LEED Platinum environmental standards
- Pickleball courts and a patio for residents
Two vehicle entrances would open onto Jericho Road, and a pathway would connect the new phase to the existing neighborhood.
Sustainability ties into mayor's agenda
The LEED Platinum construction standard aligns with a broader push for sustainability in Aurora.
Aurora Senior Planner Alex Minnella told the city's Building, Zoning and Economic Development Committee last month that the developer emphasized its commitment to environmental standards, knowing the city is currently prioritizing sustainability efforts.
Mayor John Laesch made energy-efficient housing a centerpiece of his campaign messaging. He recently told The Beacon-News that he wants to "influence some existing developers" to adopt similar practices.
More phases planned
Even if the council approves all four related proposals Tuesday, final development plans would still require later city approval.
But the housing authority is already looking beyond phase two. Grisson said the Northern Lights Development Corp., a not-for-profit organization under the housing authority's control, is exploring a phase three to continue addressing demand.
The 1449 Senior Estates site was once home to the troubled Jericho Circle housing complex, which was demolished in 2012. The development is a partnership between the Aurora Housing Authority, Northern Lights Development Corp., and a limited partnership of investors.
"In Illinois, senior housing is more necessary now, as our population continues to age," Grisson said.