The Aurora City Council Tuesday night approved a preliminary plan for Habitat for Humanity to build a 17-house subdivision on Aurora’s far West Side.
The Habitat Green Subdivision at 1921 Jericho Road would feature 1,700-square-foot houses. The homes would be heated with natural gas, but have solar applications that should make the houses cost neutral for energy, Habitat for Humanity officials have said.
The Habitat for Humanity development would be next door to a longtime subdivision that is in an unincorporated part of Aurora Township, on property originally annexed to Aurora in 2004 to be a church and daycare facility.
The church decided not to build on the property, and it has been vacant since being annexed.
Habitat officials have said it’s estimated the houses would be valued at about $325,000, but would cost prospective homeowners at least 30% less because Habitat for Humanity is not only the developer, but the mortgage holder too.
The funding for the development is coming from a grant from Nicor, as well as a federal Housing and Urban Development grant Habitat obtained with the help of U.S. Rep. Bill Foster, D-Naperville.
That kind of funding allows Habitat to offer 0% interest mortgages. And as is always the case, homeowners in Habitat properties do “sweat equity,” working on other homes the not-for-profit organization builds.
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The houses would have three bedrooms and two-car garages, according to plans.
Habitat already has six families interested in houses in the new development, officials said. The organization wants to break ground for the subdivision in the spring.