Aurora is rolling out a round of ward-by-ward public meetings as the city wrestles with a fast-growing housing crunch. The updated push around the 2020 housing strategy kicks off Wednesday, July 22 and runs into late August, with most sessions set for 5:30-7 p.m. City staff says they are looking for unfiltered resident feedback to help decide where and how to focus on affordable housing and future development.
When And Where Each Ward Is Meeting
According to the City of Aurora, the meetings are organized by ward. Ward 1 residents will gather at Martin Luther King Jr. Library (9898 E. Colfax Ave.) on July 22. Ward 2 will meet at the Aurora Municipal Center (15151 E. Alameda Parkway) on July 29. Ward 3 heads to the Aurora Center for Active Adults on Aug. 5, Ward 5 to the Central Recreation Center on Aug. 20, and Ward 6 to the Southeast Recreation Center on Aug. 26.
Details for Ward 4 are still in the works. In the meantime, officials say anyone can show up at the session that best fits their schedule, even if it is outside their home ward.
Shortage Grows As Aurora Fills Up
The numbers behind this outreach are not exactly comforting. Current estimates put Aurora's housing shortfall at more than 12,000 units in 2026, up from about 7,500 units for very low-income households in 2017, according to Sentinel Colorado. Over roughly the same stretch, the city's population climbed from about 325,000 in 2010 to roughly 414,000 today, which has only tightened the squeeze on both rentals and homes for sale.
City Says Neighbors Will Help Set The Playbook
Aurora Housing and Community Development Manager Sarah Pulliam put it plainly: "Aurora residents know better than anyone what the housing needs and challenges are in their neighborhoods," she said. City staff says the plan is to take what they hear in these rooms, refine policy proposals, and then bring recommendations back to City Council.
The original Aurora Housing Strategy was signed off by City Council in December 2020, according to the City of Aurora. This latest round of meetings is meant to update that roadmap, not just check a box.
If You Cannot Make A Meeting, You Still Get A Say
For residents who cannot show up in person, the city is opening up its online forum. From Sept. 1 through Sept. 15, the Engage Aurora portal will accept comments and questions on the housing strategy. You can find materials and the digital comment form at Engage Aurora, as reported by Sentinel Colorado. Staff says they will fold in feedback from both the in-person sessions and the online portal before deciding on next steps.
City officials are urging renters, homeowners, developers and service providers alike to weigh in. The outcome of this process will help decide what kinds of housing get built, where those projects go, and how Aurora responds to its mounting shortage over the next several years.
