Aurora mayor outlines plan to relight Northgate sign, expand energy-efficiency lending and boost downtown revival

Mayor John Lash, Aurora's mayor, outlined a package of priorities to expand energy-efficiency programs, support downtown businesses and preserve local history in an interview recapping his State of the City address.

"People centered was a big theme," Lash said, describing his administration's emphasis on community-driven ideas and staff service. He identified energy efficiency, workforce development and downtown revitalization as leading strategies to bring living-wage jobs to Aurora and to address household cost pressures.

Lash said the city is exploring a low-interest loan program that would be repaid through property taxes, modeled on existing special-service-area mechanics, to help homeowners and businesses finance energy-efficiency upgrades. "So if you made your home more energy efficient ... there's a lending process low interest loan that you can borrow against your future energy savings and, then that loan is almost guaranteed that it's gonna be repaid through your property taxes," Lash said. He explained CPACE is for commercial lending and "R"PACE would cover residential lending; CPACE has already been adopted by the city council and RPACE is expected to be proposed soon.

On building policy, Lash said the city's permits and building-code requirements are being retooled to support more energy-efficient construction and that the administration is pursuing partnerships with companies to bring light manufacturing for energy-efficient homes and training through the CJ workforce development hub, which he said is already underway.

Lash also highlighted downtown Aurora initiatives: Green Fest (scheduled for May 2), a food-truck festival on Benton and new restaurant openings such as Big Miche Taco and an anticipated Japanese restaurant, Kai. To help new businesses navigate zoning and permitting, he described a "business concierge" service repurposed from existing economic-development staff rather than hiring new employees.

On infrastructure, Lash said the city is revisiting a multiyear Broadway streetscape project to widen sidewalks and encourage outdoor dining after an earlier pause; he also described a prior plan to convert Galena and New York streets and noted state constraints had required adjustments. On traffic safety, he endorsed elements of the Strong Towns model—prioritizing slower, safer movement over top speed—and cited IDOT proposals for two roundabouts on Butterfield Road as a long-range (three- to four-year) effort to slow traffic and improve crossings.

Lash linked rising energy costs to global events and the cumulative load of large users such as data centers, saying that makes local energy-efficiency policies urgent for households. He framed volunteerism and community partnership as part of the response: he plans to volunteer monthly on a Habitat for Humanity project to help build insulated-concrete-form, energy-efficient affordable homes and encouraged residents to sign up through the city's volunteer portal.

The mayor also described a community-led effort to restore and relight the historic Northgate sign. He credited local organizers including George Gutierrez and Tracy Duran and said the Aurora Historical Society is coordinating bids and potential fundraising; the city is in talks with the private property owner that currently retains title to the sign about a possible transfer.

The interview included repeated acknowledgments of city staff: Lash said the city employs more than 1,100 people and framed staff work as essential to delivering services. The mayor closed by directing listeners to the City of Aurora's YouTube channel to view the full State of the City address on demand.

No formal council actions or votes were recorded during the interview; Lash described several proposals that will require council review or state coordination before implementation.