The future is here.
That’s the feeling, at least, for Aurora officials as they begin ribbon-cuttings on residential developments that have been years in the making – and are remaking the city.
On Wednesday, the ribbon-cutting was for the 319-unit Lumen of Fox Valley, a complex built into the east entrance to Fox Valley Mall in what was once a parking lot for a torn-down Sears store that is now only a memory.
On Thursday, the city will cut the ribbon on the reopening of The Terminal building at Galena Boulevard and Broadway downtown, featuring 20 loft apartments and retail space on the first floor.
And on Friday, the city will cut the ribbon and raise the onion dome for The Hobbs Building, at Galena and River Street, with 31 apartments and retail and restaurant spaces on the first floor.
But Wednesday was Lumen Fox Valley, and officials from the city, Centennial Real Estate, owners of the mall, and Atlantic Residential, developers of the complex, stood bathed in sunlight outside the shining new apartments where four residents already have moved in, and six more are coming in the next week.
“Welcome to the future Fox Valley,” said Scott Samson, senior general manager for Fox Valley Mall. “We’re very proud to celebrate this beautiful development. But our Fox Valley redevelopment does not end here.”
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He was referencing things like Fox Valley Yard – directly across the street from Wednesday’s ribbon-cutting – which is a large green open space that will be a park, walking area and entertainment venue where people once bought clothes and lawnmowers.
And the second phase of the redevelopment already is underway to the northwest of Lumen of Fox Valley – a senior living center of more than 200 units directly next door, and another apartment complex, this with 323 units, to the west of that.
While Fox Valley Mall has been around since 1975, Samson said he even has stopped calling the burgeoning live, work, play development a mall.
“Notice how I didn’t say mall,” Samson said. “It’s a campus.”
Mayor Richard Irvin also called it a campus as he pointed out that the bright, sunny day was “shining a light on Fox Valley.” He presented plaques to both Centennial Real Estate and Atlantic Residential, and raised a champagne glass in toast to the day.
“It was a long, hard road, but look at what we have behind us,” he said.