The Aurora City Council Committee of the Whole recently reviewed a proposal for a new townhouse development near Fox Valley Mall. This followed 18 months of negotiations between the developer and the city. The development, named Kingsley Row, will introduce 185 townhomes across 38 buildings on previously undeveloped land near the intersection of Ogden Avenue and 75th Street on Aurora’s East Side, according to city officials.
The townhomes will vary between two and three stories, offering two to three bedrooms each. They will be priced in the mid- to upper $500,000 range, as stated by Zach Kenitzer, manager of land planning and entitlements at M/I Homes, the developer. The City Council is set to cast a final vote on this development in the upcoming meeting on August 25.
City officials highlighted that the development will provide much-needed housing and increase property and sales tax revenue. The location is appealing, being within the highly regarded School District 204 and conveniently close to major highways.
Negotiations included new sustainability measures and enhanced green spaces, adding complexity and extending the timeline. David Dibo, leader of the Mayor’s Office of Economic Development, mentioned these as challenging yet crucial aspects that required flexibility and good faith from all parties.
As part of the agreement, M/I Homes will complete the construction of Commons Drive. This road currently dead-ends at both the north and south ends of the property but will be connected through the development. The project includes improvements to the intersections with Route 34 and 75th Street, which M/I Homes agreed to fund entirely. Russ Whitaker, an attorney for the developer, confirmed these plans.
A previous mixed-use development plan, Melody Town Center, fell through. With the current project, M/I Homes will connect Commons Drive from Ogden Avenue to 75th Street. The Ogden intersection will feature dedicated turn lanes, while 75th will have dual left-turn lanes, explained Aurora Senior Planner Jill Morgan. Sidewalks will accompany the new road, though not along Ogden Avenue or 75th Street, with M/I Homes opting to pay a city fee instead.
The development will adhere to new energy-efficiency standards, adding $8,000 to $10,000 to the cost per unit for M/I Homes. This marks the company’s first application of such standards on a large project. The homes will be built to be 60% more efficient than typical homes from 2006, per city officials. M/I Homes must verify the designs and final construction meet these efficiency criteria.
This initiative presents a learning opportunity for both the city and the developer, remarked Alison Lindburg, the city’s director of sustainability. Savings amassed from capping permit fees are projected to reduce costs by $2,000 to $2,500 per unit. The city’s Choose Aurora Homebuyer Assistance Program offers loans and grants to eligible buyers, including those interested in townhomes from this project.
For homeowners, the energy-efficient measures will lower utility costs and enhance home quality. Better insulation and construction techniques aim to minimize drafts and allow smaller utility systems for increased energy savings. These features contribute to more resilient homes that maintain temperature longer during outages.
Lindburg noted the importance of this partnership in guiding future sustainability efforts. Aurora Mayor John Laesch emphasized sustainability as a key part of his administration. He anticipates that demand for energy-efficient housing will rise. “Companies embracing these changes will thrive as climate patterns change,” he commented.
While satisfaction exists regarding key project elements, Mayor Laesch expressed a preference for a sound wall due to the site’s high traffic. The land, initially annexed in 1998 for automotive and commercial uses, was designated for assisted living in 2019, although that plan did not materialize.