• Why Downtown Aurora?
• Financial Incentives
• Certificates of Appropriateness
• Contact Us

Why locate your business in downtown?
Aurora's economy city-wide continues to be strong, with a diverse base of major employers and a well-educated workforce. Major downtown Aurora employers include:

The City of Aurora sponsors a variety of festivals and events set in the heart of downtown Aurora, regularly bringing ever-increasing numbers of visitors to the neighborhood. Click onto www.aurora-il.org/SpecialEvents for an updated schedule.

Each Friday night from mid-June until the end of August, between 6,000 and 8,000 people enjoy Downtown Alive! with a high-powered roster of free music, children's activities, and opportunities to purchase food from a variety of street vendors. Also during the summer, children and their grown-ups can enjoy "Party in the Plaza" every Wednesday afternoon at Millennium Plaza on Stolp Avenue. Aurora's popular Farmers Market, staged at the Route 25 Transportation Center, is a "must-do" event that attracts over 5,000 shoppers throughout its June 25th through October 8th season. The Puerto Rican Heritage Festival, held annually on the last weekend in July attracts 6,500 visitors. Fiesta de Luces, hosted by the City's Hispanic Heritage Advisory Board, brings lively music and fun to the neighborhood the first weekend in October. And, downtown Aurora is the City's prime parade route, featuring floats and music on the Memorial Day, Fourth of July, Veterans Day, and the day after Thanksgiving (Holiday Magic).

Additionally, nearly 200,000 visitors take advantage annually of performances, exhibits, and events at the Paramount Theatre, the Copley Theatre, the Riverfront Playhouse, SciTech Hands-On Museum, the Aurora Regional Fire Museum, and the David L. Pierce Art and History Center -- strong magnets for visitors and Aurora residents. Hollywood Casino-Aurora, located at the north end of downtown, hosts approximately two million visitors each year. These accrued numbers translate into powerful business opportunities for downtown merchants and service providers.

Locating your business in downtown Aurora means:

• Affordable purchase prices and commercial rents
• Educational opportunities at Waubonsee Community College (at its existing site, and in a planned $20 million new downtown campus)
• More than 2,300 public parking spaces, including a decked structure, on-street, and surface lots with an additional 1,700 privately-owned parking spaces
• METRA commuter rail connections, PACE bus routes, Greyhound bus service, and convenient street access to I-88; IL Routes 25, 31, and 56; and U.S. Routes 30 and 34
• A 40-minute trip to O'Hare International Airport or a 45-minute trip to Midway Airport, plus access to the Aurora Municipal Airport located 8 miles west of downtown, a full-service corporate aircraft facility owned and operated by the City of Aurora

Market research has identified demand for a range of uses in downtown Aurora, including:

• Book/video/music retail shop
• Grocery store/specialty market
• Bicycle shop/repairs
• Canoe/kayak rentals and supplies
• Outdoor outfitters
• Ice cream shop/bakery
• Home decorating/interiors shop
• Hardware store
• Art galleries
• Themed dining
• Full-service overnight accommodations

Financial Incentives

Financial Assistance
Several programs are available through the City's Downtown Development Division to assist with the rehabilitation of buildings. Please call us at 630-844-3670 to make an appointment to discuss these programs in greater detail.

Exterior Restoration Assistance Program
The City of Aurora provides grants for the restoration of downtown building exteriors. Our goal is to preserve or rescue our significant architectural heritage from inappropriate "modernizations" and to ensure that the distinctive, original architectural features of our buildings are maintained or reconstructed. We offer architectural assistance up to $4,000 per elevation and 1:1 matching grants for certain construction costs up to $40,000. Eligible projects include repair of wood windows; removal of façade panels or screens; restoration of storefronts and architectural elements; replacement of non-conforming, obsolete, or inappropriate signs; addition of awnings, canopies, or marquees; painting, masonry restoration, etc.

Interior Rehabilitation Program
This program is designed to encourage the location of new enterprises, and the retention or expansion of existing residential, office, and commercial businesses in the downtown Tax Increment Financing (TIF) District. Grant applicants are required to submit a business plan, commit to a five-year minimum occupancy, and meet with Downtown Development Division staff annually to report business activity and status. For applicants who meet these requirements, the City of Aurora offers 1:1 matching grants to downtown residential, office, commercial and/or retail businesses that generate sales or property tax revenue. Eligible projects include plumbing, structural, fire code compliance, electrical, ADA compliance, roofing, sprinkler, and HVAC renovation work. Under this program, grants are made for architectural and construction assistance. The amount of assistance is based on the size of the project.

Building Size	Architectural Grant	Interior Grant (1:1 match)
0-15,000 sq. ft.	$4,000	$25,000
15,000-30,000 sq. ft.	$8,000	$50,000
30,000 sq. ft. +	$16,000	$100,000

Other Financial and Technical Assistance
The Downtown Development Division and the Aurora Economic Development Commission work closely to assist businesses who wish to locate to our downtown or expand current operations. We can help you find a site, develop a plan, finance your project, market your product or services, etc.

Certificates of Appropriateness - Frequently Asked Questions
The City of Aurora has specific rules for work that is done on buildings in our downtown. These rules are part of the Aurora Zoning Ordinance and are called the FoxWalk Overlay District Intent, Rules, and Regulations (IRR). We've tried to explain some of the "basics" below. Please call (630-844-3670) or email kchristensen@aurora-il.org if you have questions.

I'm ready to work on my building. What's the first step?
Before doing any work on your building, you must apply for a Certificate of Appropriateness (COA). You can get an application and guidelines from the Downtown Development Division at 1 South Broadway, Aurora, IL.

Where do the rules apply?
The FoxWalk IRR applies in the area bounded by Spring and Spruce Streets to the north, Benton Street to the south, Lincoln Avenue to the east, and Lake Street to the west.

What items do the rules include?
The FoxWalk IRR cover:

• The use of your building
• Work done on the exterior of your building, including doors and windows
• Demolition of your building
• Additions to your building
• Signs or murals on the building, windows or doors
• Awnings or canopies
• Changes or repairs to the windows and doors
• Security bars, cages, shutters
• Kiosks
• Sandwich board signs
• Exterior lighting of buildings or signs

Do I have to pay for a COA?
There is no charge for the COA.

If I have a COA, do I still need a building permit?
A COA does not replace a building permit. Building permits are required for all additions, alteration, new construction, signs, and some repairs. For more information, call the Division of Building and Permits at 630-892-8088.

What happens if I do work without getting a COA first?
If you do work without a COA, City of Aurora inspectors may issue a citation to you, since you are violating the Aurora Zoning Ordinance. Citations can result in fines and court appearances.

How long will it take to get a COA?
Simple COAs can sometimes be issued as soon as you file your completed application. More complicated COAs must go through the FoxWalk Overlay District Design Review Committee, a process that generally takes one month or less.

What information will I need for my COA application?
You will need a description of the work you plan to do, plus a scaled drawing of the proposed work.

Can my COA application be turned down?
Downtown Development Division staff will work with you while you prepare your application so that it is not likely to be turned down. However, the Design Review Committee or the City Council can deny a COA if they think your plans do not fit the FoxWalk District rules. They will suggest changes so you can revise your application.

Why are there special rules for downtown properties?
The FoxWalk District rules were set by the City Council with both a vision for the future and a desire to preserve the things that make downtown Aurora a distinctive place: historic architecture; the beautiful Fox River; varied retail shops; specialty restaurants; unique apartments; public gathering spaces like Millennium Plaza, Rotary Park, Tivoli Plaza, Sesquicentennial Park; and cultural gems such as the Paramount Arts Centre, SciTech, the Art and History Center, the G.A.R. Memorial, and the Aurora Regional Fire Museum.

What help is available from the City of Aurora if I want to improve my downtown property or business?
The City of Aurora offers a number of programs that can help finance improvements to the outside or inside of your property. Call (630-844-3670) or e-mail kchristensen@aurora-il.org for information about grants, loans, and architectural guidance. We also can link you with resources to make your business more successful.

Questions? We've got answers...
Downtown Development Coordinator - 630-844-3670
Aurora Economic Development Commission - 630-897-5500
Waubonsee Community College Small Business Development Center - 630-906-4143
City of Aurora (for Spanish) - 630-264-INFO (4636)