Kinetic sculpture installation to bring color and whimsy to City Park

The Aurora Art in Public Places Commission approved the selection of George Peters and Melanie
Walker to create a public artwork for City Park, currently under renovation.

Public artwork by George Peters & Melanie Walker

The art selection panel, made up of residents, artists, the construction project landscape architects, a Fire Station 1 representative and an AIPP Commission member, spent over a year reviewing artists and art proposals for the project. The final result is an installation of six wind vanes placed within the entry plaza on 16th Avenue and Emporia Street.

The renovation of the park is planned for completion this fall and will add a new skate plaza, basketball court, walking path around the park and several new trees and plants.

For more information about Aurora’s Art in Public Places Program, visit www.auroragov.org/publicart or call 303-739-6747.

“The Collection” art project through Original Aurora Renewal

Found Art:

A Found Art Project is based upon “Reduce-Reuse-Repurpose-Recycle”. Project begins in September 2009 and the theme is called “The Collection”. What we collect collectively we’ll create with under the tutelage of Found Art Artist, Phil Bender. For more information contact Peg Alt at (303) 739-7930 or palt@auroragov.org.  

Tags: art, aurora, colorado, community, district, east, end arts, phil bender, public

Festival International

Enjoy the music, dance, food, children’s activities,
art and craft of more than 20 nationalities representing six continents
at the second annual Festival International.

Join us for this event’s exciting second year in Aurora’s East End Arts District!

This free event is happening from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, September 19, 2009, at FletcherPlaza, the outdoor urban plaza at 9898 E. Colfax Ave., between Havana and Yosemite, in Aurora’s East End Arts District.

Entertainment will be provided by cultural groups representing such countries and continents as Ireland, Australia, Africa, the Polynesian Islands, Japan, China, Mexico, Eastern Europe, North America, India and elsewhere. Visitors will be able to sample foods from several cultures. A World Market will feature arts and crafts from around the world.

Finally, the Passport to Culture, a children’s activity area, will host hands-on, interactive cultural activities touching on global dance and performance, international sports and games, make-and-take projects and exploratory experiences such as trying on authentic heritage attire. Children will receive their own Festival International Passport to Culture in which they may receive marks for each activity and food vendor they visit during the festival.

We are looking for a wide variety of artists, entertainers, and food
and craft vendors to be a part of Festival International each year.
Please contact us if you are interested in participating.

Festival International is presented by the Northern Aurora Business Association, and sponsored by the City of Aurora. To find out more, call 303-361-6169 or e-mail info@aurorabusiness.info

Tags: art, aurora, colorado, Events, Festival International, Food, Music, stuff, to do

Fall Fest 2009

Artful Banner Bags for Sale

Eco friendly banner bags

Get an eco-friendly banner bag from the city’s Original Aurora Renewal Division in the East End Arts District. Call Peg Alt at 303-739-7930.

Jung Sook Chon of Chambers Shoe Repair & Clothing Alterations displays bags she made from old event banners. Net proceeds from the bags will help fund OAR’s upcoming ‘found art’ community art project, called ‘The Collection,’ in Original Aurora.

Event banners are sewn into bags

What’s Happening in North Aurora?

click here for the pdf of the below city-of-aurora-north-aurora-programs

Please join us, and take a seat in North Aurora!    

           Housing

• First time Homebuyer Program (HOAP)
• Single Family Rehab for existing homeowners
• NSP Homeownership for foreclosed properties in North Aurora

www.auroragov.org/AuroraGov/Departments/Neighborhood_Services/Community_Development

Commercial Opportunities  

• Commercial Rehabilitation: 100% Loan (50% forgivable)

www.auroragov.org/AuroraGov/Departments/Neighborhood_Services/Community_Development

• Aurora Business Development Center: Revolving Loan Fund & Micro Business Lending

www.auroragov.org/AuroraGov/Departments/Development_Services/Business_Development_Center

• Arts District Loan Fund & Colfax Economic Enrichment Program (CEEP)

www.auroragov.org/AuroraGov/Departments/Development_Services/Urban_Renewal

                 Arts

• East End Arts District: An association of over 40 arts and business members which have come together to support and celebrate the East End Arts District with 2^nd Fridays, Bi-Annual Art Walks and MORE!!

www.eastendartsdistrict.org

•  Public Art Installations & Streetscape

www.auroragov.org/publicart  AND www.auroragov.org/AuroraGov/Departments/LibraryRecreationandCulturalServices

• Original Aurora Renewal: Community Arts Projects & Beeler Garden

www.auroragov.org/AuroraGov/Departments/Neighborhood_Services/Original_Aurora_Renewal

Events               

• Festival International: An annual celebration of our diverse cultural heritages! September 2009
• Fall Festival: a seasonal celebration of community in North Aurora. October 2009

www.auroragov.org/AuroraGov/Departments/Neighborhood_Services/Original_Aurora_Renewal

COLFAX ECONOMIC ENRICHMENT PROGRAM

Introduction

The City of Aurora established the Fletcher Plaza Urban Renewal Area (FPURA) and the East End Arts District in 2003 the area has been a focus of the City’s redevelopment strategy since that time.  With the designation of Original Aurora as an “arts district” and the creation of resources for arts uses, this redevelopment strategy has been an important component of reinvestment in the area over the last five years.

A seed grant from the Community Development Block Grant Program (CDBG) was awarded to the City’s Development Services Department in 2008 in order to help diversify investment incentives in the area.  By creating a more flexible pool of funds, the CEEP Program is designed to complement and leverage other funding initiatives in the target area, including the Arts District Loan Fund, the Commercial Renovation program, and the Aurora Business Development Center revolving loan fund.  CEEP was created to assist small businesses and non-profit organizations by contributing to the sustainability of these core business ventures, and will is designed to create jobs and enhance the diversity and critical mass of vibrant businesses in the area.

Colfax Economic Enrichment Program (CEEP) Guideline

Purpose

• To promote the creation of a civic and cultural core.
• To build upon the existing community assets and attract residents and visitors to the area. To expand the arts and cultural attractions and to build the area’s identity as an arts district.
• To provide opportunities for private redevelopment and investment to address existing conditions of blight.
• To diversify the types of new businesses attracted to the area.
• To support core businesses and nonprofits in early years of operation.
• To further the sound economic growth of the area through job creation & retention.

Use of Funds

CDBG funds must be used for acquisition, construction/reconstruction, rehabilitation and installation of commercial buildings, structures, or other real property, equipment and improvements.  Outcomes will include the facilitation of economic development and job creation by providing grants to businesses and nonprofits in the area bounded by 14^th Avenue (south) 16^th Avenue (north) Yosemite (west) and Havana (east).  These boundaries lie within the HUD NRSA for Community Development and funds will be to increase the success and sustainability of targeted ventures in the area.

Eligibility Criteria

• Funded activities must comply with CDBG eligibility criteria and contribute to the improvement of the neighborhood.
• Activities must promote FPURA Goals (listed above under “purpose”)
• Applicants must be able to meet guidelines for matching requirements (targeted as 1:4 for non-profits and 1:1 for for-profit businesses.)

Additional Selection Criteria

• Documented need for funding support.
• Strength of applicant based on the quality of information provided in the business plan, including financial feasibility and market analysis.
• Area Impact, including the number of visitors drawn to the area, employment and contribution to the diverse mix of businesses in the area.
• Leverage of other funds and investments (private and/or public)
• Effective support of FPURA goals.

Terms

Funds will be distributed as part of a one-time competitive application process.  The program will be marketed to promote and generate interest in business relocation and expansion in the Fletcher Plaza neighborhood.  Future year program terms will be determined based on the demand for funds and additional funding opportunities through the Community Development Block Grant program.  The CEEP program will included a requirement that awardees monitor, document and report on performance milestones.

 Application Deadline:  June 30, 2009

City of Aurora Development Services Department
Moira Dungan (303) 739-7128
mdungan@auroragov.org

Neighborhood Stabilization Program

City of Aurora Fact Sheet

Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP)  

The City of Aurora is buying, rehabilitating and re-selling foreclosed properties to income eligible homebuyers in Aurora. 

• All homes will be completely renovated and energy efficient with all new bathroom and kitchen upgrades with energy efficient appliances, new xeriscape landscaping and sprinkler systems. Finished homes will require very little maintenance.
• While most homes are located near the East End Arts District, the program will eventually offer homes throughout the City.
• Properties can ONLY be shown to those homebuyers who have been pre-qualified for the program by the Community Development staff. Household income for eligible buyers cannot exceed 120% of the area median income. (Community Development staff will help interested buyers to determine income eligibility). City staff will also assist homebuyers in determining the amount of subsidy they are eligible for, will refer buyers to participating lenders, and will hold Homebuyer Seminars to assist with required program training.
• To obtain an application for the program contact Metro Home Finders, Inc.

Margie Nokes (303) 898-6399.

For more information please contact the City of Aurora Community Development Division at

 www.auroragov.org/AuroraGov/Departments/Neighborhood_Services/Community_Development