Background
The city of Aurora was originally awarded funding from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in 2000 in order 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 and petroleum 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 the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. The goal of the program is to assist in changing older, underutilized sites into revitalized and productive properties. The city of Aurora will use the $1.45 million to facilitate the cleanup and redevelopment of sites throughout the city and in targeted redevelopment areas including established urban renewal areas.
Program goals
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Eliminate real or potential risks to public health and the environment.
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Dispel Brownfield myths by educating property owners, developers and lenders about favorable trends in liability and regulatory policies; remediation technologies, timeframes and costs.
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Facilitate site assessments, remediation planning, clean-ups and redevelopment.
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Increase citizen awareness and participation.
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Develop and promote insurance mechanisms and varied financing sources for cleanups.
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Develop sustained pollution prevention practices among area businesses.