See all of the latest revitalization updates here. (Last Updated: 07/18/11)

FUNDING RECEIVED 06/02/11 FOR VOUCHERS TO RELOCATE  REMAINING JERICHO CIRCLE RESIDENTS

VOUCHERS ISSUED TO ALL ELIGIBLE RESIDENTS THE WEEK OF 06/06/11

Current timeline: 

 - Demolition Application approved at Special Board Meeting held May 17, 2010

 - Demolition Application submitted to HUD Special Applications Center (SAC) May 18, 2010

 - Demolition Application approved by HUD September 7, 2010

 - Application for Tenant Protection Vouchers submitted to HUD September 8, 2010

 - Funding for 1st 10 Tenant Protection Vouchers available from HUD 

-  Distribution of vouchers to be determined by randomized waiting list (Jericho Circle Residents only)

- 1st 10 relocation vouchers issued April 8, 2011

-  Vouchers issued to all eligible Jericho Circle resident the week of 06/06/11

 - Demolition activities to begin after relocation of current residents

EXPLORATION OF REDEVELOPMENT ALTERNATIVES - APRIL 2011 OUTLINE

This outline was submitted to AHA Board on April 27, 2011.

I. Guiding Principles

a. Cooperation with the City and community:  It has always been and remains the intention and desire of the AHA to work in concert with the City of Aurora overall, and with community stakeholders, to carry out its redevelopment activities in the best way possible.  The AHA has agreed to work closely with the City of Aurora, with the involvement of relevant community stakeholders, in order to explore potential alternative sites for redevelopment and provision of affordable housing, housing that will satisfy the AHA’s mission, the needs of Aurora for affordable housing and considerations of fair housing choice.

b. Status of AHA’s Annual Plan/Strategic Plan:  AHA’s Strategic Plan is incorporated into its Annual Plan.  AHA has not amended these plans as of this time.  Because it wishes to achieve the highest degree of community support and cooperation possible, AHA has agreed to add consideration of alternative site locations to its process of redevelopment.  The AHA currently owns and is able to redevelop the existing Jericho Circle property, which is subject to binding agreements with the United States Government (HUD).  AHA will not be amending its plans except to the limited extent it chooses to add exploration of development sites alternative to Jericho Circle.  Until an alternative is concretely identified and pursued, no other plan amendments can be made.  Therefore, AHA has not relinquished redevelopment of the Jericho Circle site, and will only forego this avenue of redevelopment in the event commitment to a suitable and alternative plan is achieved.

c. Affordable Housing: The AHA’s intent is to pursue additional units of affordable housing, not rebuild public housing. Although there is no standard definition of affordable housing, it is generally accepted that “affordable” represents housing costing no more than 30 percent of a household’s gross income.  In recent years, most affordable housing has been built as part of a mixed-income development. Such a development is likely to consist of a population with incomes ranging from 30% - 80% of AMI. The 2010-2011 AMI for Kane County is $75,100.  Unit numbers and configurations are dependent upon feasibility from both a management and financing perspective and will be analyzed in the upcoming process.

d. Delay in AHA’s LIHTC submission:  AHA’s consideration, at the request of the City of Aurora, of alternative development sites and models, will cause the AHA to miss the final submission deadline of April 15, 2011 to IHDA for needed tax credits (a critical redevelopment financing component). It should be noted that AHA’s preliminary January 2011 submission concerning redevelopment of the Jericho Circle site was in fact selected by IHDA to proceed (over dozens of others).  The AHA intends to meet the anticipated December 2011 preliminary submission to IHDA for 2012 LIHTCs, either with a proposal concerning an alternative site, or by resubmitting its Jericho Circle proposal.  The timetable, below, reflects this intention.

II. Timetable

a. AHA has issued two RFQ’s that will provide necessary groundwork for the consideration of alternative redevelopment sites:

i. Needs Assessment and Site Identification Analysis;
ii. Specially Tailored Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice.

b. RFQ responses are due May 16, 2011. Selections will be promptly made and these analyses will be undertaken through July 2011.

c. AHA presents forums for the purpose of educating and disseminating information to the public.  Participants will be solicited by AHA from local community advocate and faith based groups, educational institutions, City of Aurora, AHA Board, etc.   Forums will be presented during June and July and will be designed to present issues related to affordable housing development, mixed finance/mixed income housing and fair housing implications.  Summaries will be posted on AHA website.

d. On or before August 1, 2011, AHA begins review of alternative sites, in cooperation with the City of Aurora and with input from AHA developer.  AHA will consider any alternative sites prior to this time, if they strongly appear to be concrete and address the various known concerns at hand.  AHA developer will be asked by AHA to provide analysis and assessment of financial feasibility of proposed alternatives, as appropriate.

e. August-September, 2011, Community/Stakeholder meetings will be held.  HUD approvals will be sought as needed.

f. October-November, 2011, AHA works on design/proposals/developer agreement modifications and HUD required submissions and approvals.

g. December 2011, Pre-qualification submission by AHA to IHDA.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact the Aurora Housing Authority at the following:

Address: 1630 W. Plum Street, Aurora, IL 60506

Phone Number: (630) 859-7210