Background

The city of Aurora was originally awarded funding from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in 2000 to undertake a complete environmental assessment of properties in North Aurora. The project contributed to the eventual redevelopment of a significant number of contaminated parcels along the Colfax corridor and what eventually became the Fletcher Plaza Urban Renewal Area in Original Aurora. The city’s goal for the area was to include Brownfields activities as part of an integrated program of revitalization in order to bring positive, long-lasting change to the community.

Program Description

Loan funds are available to Aurora land owners and developers that are interested in undertaking environmental cleanup activities on sites with hazardous waste contamination, and associated redevelopment projects that will result in job creation and redevelopment in Aurora.

Contaminated sites, known as “Brownfields,” may be cleaned up using loan funds (with flexible terms) from Environmental Protection Act grants to the city. The goal of the program is to assist in changing older, underutilized sites into revitalized and productive properties. The city of Aurora uses the revolving loan fund to facilitate the cleanup and redevelopment of sites throughout the city and in targeted redevelopment areas including established urban renewal areas.

Program goals

1. Eliminate real or potential risks to public health and the environment.

2. Dispel Brownfield myths by educating property owners, developers and lenders about favorable trends in liability and regulatory policies, remediation technologies, timeframes and costs.

3. Facilitate site assessments, remediation planning, cleanups and redevelopment.

4. Increase resident awareness and participation.

5. Develop and promote insurance mechanisms and varied financing sources for cleanups.

6. Develop sustained pollution prevention practices among area businesses.