Around the City
Havana improvements underway
The Havana Business Improvement District (BID) is the first and only in Aurora. The BID extends 4.3 miles along Havana, from 6th Avenue to Dartmouth, and includes 750 businesses and commercial properties. The BID successfully went before its stakeholders last November asking for a 4.5 mill property tax levy for funding.
The BID’s kick-off project is the redevelopment of the old Buckingham Square Mall. Demolition of the old mall has begun to make way for the Gardens on Havana, a new mixed-use development. Kohl’s is expected to be open for business in late 2008 with the remainder of the new retail open in the spring of 2009.
The BID is hosting two events in 2008: Cruzin’ Havana Car and Bike Show on June 21, and Savor the Flavors International Restaurant Week, October 12-18.
APS students go to college for free
A new partnership, PACEsetters, between APS and the Community College of Aurora is a win-win situation for students and parents. The joint agreement allows students to earn as high as an associate’s degree while still in high school.
PACEsetters is an expansion of Middle College Program partnership between Pickens Technical College and CCA. It’s unique because APS and CCA jointly hired a counselor who works with students to ensure their success in the program. Earned credit hours can be transferred to any public college in Colorado.
Without this opportunity, a student would pay approximately $4,620 in CCA tuition. Similar coursework at Metropolitan State College would be $6,081; at University of Northern Colorado, $7,200; and at University of Denver, $44,040.
More than 120 students are enrolled in CCA classes for the upcoming spring semester. That is triple the number of APS students currently enrolled.
Aurora Housing Authority announces new director
Craig A. Maraschky has been named the new executive director of Aurora Housing Authority. He takes the post Feb. 11.
Maraschky has 15 years of experience in the affordable housing community and most recently served as the founding executive director of the Douglas County Housing Partnership, where he helped start many programs and operations.
Maraschky earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Urban Studies from Cleveland State University and his Master of Urban and Regional Planning degree from the University of Colorado.
Information about the Aurora Housing Authority is available online at aurorahousing.org.
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