Aurora Arts Center

The Aurora Arts center is aptly named for its central role in advancing a thoughtfully planned mixed-use, mixed income, community revitalization effort. The development focuses on providing quality arts education services for the community, expanding the quality and delivery of performing arts, providing quality affordable housing options geared specifically for artists, and generating job opportunities within the downtown market. The project includes 38 affordable apartments, an arts school, a restaurant, an art gallery (featuring art created or performed by residents), and a Broadway rehearsal space. Ryan’s Historic Tax Credits team consulted on $4.8 million in federal historic tax credits and $6 million in state historic tax credits for the project. Low-income housing tax credits were also utilized to make the rehabilitation of this national and local landmark a reality.

The two historic buildings that are now the Aurora Arts Center are the Stanley Building and the Block & Kuhl Building. The Block & Kuhl Building was constructed in 1928 by the Aurora Development Company. Block & Kuhl, a dry goods store originating in Peoria, and Montgomery Ward were the first tenants of the building. The Stanley Building was built in 1925 by the Stanley Furniture Company. Both structures are contributing resources of the Stolp Island Historic District, listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1986.