Last year, Aurora was named the top city for living the American Dream based on metrics like home value, home ownership, unemployment, and economic mobility. Now, the city is getting two new developments: a big shopping center and 171 townhomes. 

The Pacific Square Center, expected to be the largest Asian-focused shopping center in the U.S., is being proposed for development at the site of the nearly 35-acre Yorkshire Plaza, according to the Chicago Tribune. Half of the Yorkshire Plaza is vacant. 

The Pacific Square Center, being proposed by Daniel Nee, would include three development phases. The first phase would focus on bringing new tenants and shops to the location. The second phase would include demolition of several Yorkshire Plaza buildings and construction of a new 30,000-square-foot office building. During the $63 million third phase, the developer would bring a parking deck, a new apartment building, and commercial space to the property, according to the report.

Rendering courtesy of Indian Prairie School District 204 Board

City Council still has a number of votes on the development ahead, but the city is already considering two tax incentives to support the development, according to the Chicago Tribune. The incentives include a Business Improvement District, which would allow the city to pass a tax on sales in the district that would be collected for up to 23 years. The other incentive would be a tax increment financing (TIF) district. 

David Hulsberg, CEO of Aurora’s nonprofit redevelopment arm Invest Aurora, is championing Pacific Square Center. He believes the development will fit nicely with Aurora’s hopes to redevelop the Route 59 corridor. The city recently approved a study to analyze the potential use of land along Route 59, according to the Chicago Tribune. 

While Aurora mulls the possibility of the shopping center, it has already approved plans for a townhome development — also considered a part of the city’s larger plans for Route 59 — on the southeast side of the city, according to the Chicago Tribune. Homebuilding company MI Homes will build the 171-unit development on the 25-acre Brach-Brody property. The development will feature two- and three-bedroom townhomes. Each unit will have a two-car garage. The units are expected to cost upwards of $200,000, according to the report. The development will feature a one-acre park.

The developers have also agreed to complete Commons Drive. This will connect from 75th Street to Montgomery Road, according to the report.