Aurora plans fix up of 15 blighted properties

Aurora will use a $525,000 state housing grant again to fix up 15 blighted properties.

The city council on Tuesday authorized participating in the Illinois Housing Development Authority program. Last year the city received $280,000 in IHDA funds.

In the latest round of the program, the city last year identified two properties on Grand Boulevard, two on Fulton Street, and properties on Grove, Pearl, Fourth, Talma and Jackson streets, as well as properties on Gillette and Grand avenues.

The program provides funding to cover the costs of property acquisition, demolition and "greening" of the properties, which are considered blighted or abandoned.

Funding for individual properties is not to exceed $35,000 per property, said Chuck Nelson, the city's interim director of neighborhood standards.

The lion's share of the funds, $30,250, is for the acquisition, demolition, and lot treatment of the property. A total of $3,000 is set aside for maintenance, and $1,750 for administrative expenses.

The city will transfer title of the properties to two nonprofit partners: Joseph Corporation and Northern Lights Development Corp. In turn, the nonprofits will demolish and redevelop the properties into green space or buildable lots.

Aldermen may suggest properties from their wards to be considered for the program.