Aurora Regional Navigation Campus

Calling all artists! The city of Aurora’s Art in Public Places program seeks a talented artist to create a holistic vision for the Day Room at the Aurora Regional Navigation Campus that reflects the project’s mission and intention.

Applications must be submitted by Friday, Nov. 15. To learn more information and to apply, visit AuroraGov.org/PublicArt.

For questions, email publicart@auroragov.org.

As the city of Aurora moves forward with preparations for the Regional Navigation Campus, slated to open in late 2025, Advance Inc. has been selected as the facility’s operator to help transition individuals from homelessness to permanent housing.

"Advance’s prior experience and holistic approach to helping individuals transition from homelessness to self-sufficiency will be an asset to the campus," said Jessica Prosser, Aurora’s Director of Housing and Community Services. "Their expertise will be invaluable as we work to deliver comprehensive support and services to those experiencing homelessness in Aurora and the region."

Advance was selected through a competitive request for proposal process, emerging as the top candidate among three non-profit applicants. The contract, approved by the Aurora City Council at the regular meeting on Sept. 23, includes an initial term of three years with the option to extend.

“We are excited to partner with the city of Aurora to operate the navigation campus and to reach our goal of reducing homelessness in Aurora by 50%,” said Jim Goebelbecker, Advance’s Executive Director. “We look forward to creating pathways for people experiencing homelessness to achieve their highest personal level of self-sufficiency and a sense of hope for the future.”

The selection panel, which included representatives from the Metro Denver Homeless Initiative, Adams, Arapahoe, and Douglas counties, as well as city staff, evaluated the proposals based on a set of criteria, including experience on similar projects, data gathering capabilities, proposed timing of occupancy and programming, and experience on operations fundraising.

The $2 million operations agreement, funded by Aurora’s general fund and marijuana tax revenue, covers shelter and case management services, among other services for the unhoused in the region. Advance will also be responsible for securing additional public and private funding to sustain campus services.

Beginning Oct. 1, Advance will take over the Aurora Day Resource Center’s operations from Mile High Behavioral Healthcare. This handover will ensure uninterrupted services as Advance prepares for its expanded role at the navigation campus. Services at the center, such as employment assistance and cold-weather emergency shelter, will remain unchanged during this transition.

The city will host another round of community engagement events later this fall to introduce Advance to local business owners and residents near the navigation campus and provide project updates. The public is encouraged to sign up for project updates at EngageAurora.org/NavigationCampus.

In January 2024, Aurora City Council approved the purchase of the property at 15550 E. 40th Ave. in Aurora (formerly the Crowne Plaza Hotel) for its regional navigation campus to support individuals experiencing homelessness or housing instability using a “work first” approach.

View and download presentation slides (PDF)

Watch the recording of the presentation

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March 12 Update: Due to inclement weather, the meeting on March 14 will now only occur virtually and not in person.

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Community members and businesses interested in the progress of the Aurora Regional Navigation Campus are welcome to attend upcoming hybrid public meetings. Attendees will learn project updates and have the opportunity to ask questions.

Two meetings are planned, each tailored to address the concerns of different stakeholders, particularly those located near the campus. The intention is to allow ample time for questions from those the campus activity would directly impact.

• Meeting for Business Owners | Thursday, March 14 | 6 to 8 p.m.
• Meeting for Residents | Thursday, March 28 | 6 to 8 p.m.

The meetings will take place at the Aurora Municipal Center, 15151 E. Alameda Parkway, Paul Tauer Council Chamber. A virtual option is also available; meeting details are available at EngageAurora.org/NavigationCampus. Recordings of both meetings will also be viewable on the project website.

“Community outreach is a critical component in the development of the navigation campus,” said Jessica Prosser, Aurora’s Housing and Community Services Director. “These meetings are part of our “Good Neighbor” plan to keep stakeholders informed and engaged as the project progresses.”

Spanish interpretation will be provided at both meetings in person and virtually; additional language interpretation can be requested by the Monday before the meeting by contacting language@auroragov.org or calling 303.739.7521.

Fliers informing the public about both meetings are translated into English, Spanish, Korean, Chinese (Mandarin), Vietnamese, and Amharic to reach diverse community groups, and they are available on the project page.

Postcards in English and Spanish have been distributed to addresses within a 1.5-mile radius of the campus. Aurora city staff plans to contact Denver city staff and provide meeting materials for reference and, if they so choose, also help to promote the meetings.

In January 2024, Aurora City Council voted to purchase the property at 15550 E. 40th Ave. in Aurora for its regional navigation campus to serve those experiencing homelessness with various services. The city is expected to close on the property in May 2024.

To learn more or ask questions about the project, visit EngageAurora.org/NavigationCampus.

On Monday, Jan. 22, Aurora City Council approved 7-3 the purchase of the property at 15550 E. 40th Ave. in Aurora for its regional navigation campus to serve those experiencing homelessness. This purchase comes in lieu of previous plans to build a new center.

“The resources slated for the campus represent Aurora’s unique approach to addressing homelessness in a constructive, rehabilitative way using the work-first model we adopted," said Aurora Mayor Mike Coffman.

City staff have toured the site several times over the last several months and have determined, in consultation with city council members, that it has many of the amenities necessary for a fully operational navigation campus. Included are a convention center space to provide an emergency shelter and day shelter, an industrial kitchen, industrial laundry, congregate space, and space for service providers to do case management and offer other services and 255 rooms.

The current property owner is scheduled to wind down and end its business operations over the coming months. The city would close on the property in May 2024.

“By purchasing this existing facility instead of waiting for construction of a new center to complete, we are able to provide vital support for those experiencing homelessness in Aurora much more quickly and at a lesser cost,” said Jessica Prosser, Aurora's Director of Housing and Community Services. “Upon completing renovations, the facility would open as early as 2025.”

The facility's $26.5 million purchase price is based on an appraisal prepared by a third-party appraisal firm on Nov. 16, 2023. The city has gathered $39,991,454 in funding from various sources for the navigation campus project.

• $15,360,852 – Colorado Department of Local Affairs (DOLA)
• $5,000,000 – Aurora American Rescue Plan (ARPA) funds
• $3,734,741 – Aurora Housing and Urban Development (HUD) HOME-ARP funds
• $5,000,000 – Adams County ARPA funds
• $3,270,861 – Adams County HUD HOME-ARP funds
• $5,000,000 – Arapahoe County ARPA funds
• $1,125,000 – Douglas County ARPA funds
• $1,500,000 – Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) COVID funds

“We are grateful for all of our community partners, especially DOLA and the three counties that serve Aurora,” Prosser said. “We would not be able to do this work without their support."

Some of the services slated for the navigation center include:

• Transitional housing
• Employment services
• Workforce development
• Day shelter
• Emergency shelter
• Medical clinic
• Addiction counseling
• Mental health services
• Medical respite beds
• Housing navigation
• Case management
• Meals

City staff have already consulted with homeless service providers on programming and services the navigation campus would need to provide. They will also connect with nearby residents, businesses and other stakeholders in the area of the proposed navigation center, including those in nearby Denver to create good neighbor plans. Engagement with those experiencing homelessness will also be crucial and part of this project.

The action taken by City Council on Monday only represents the first step in this process, but is required before undertaking decisions regarding an operator, campus layout, specific uses and community outreach efforts. Details on topics will be shared in the coming months based on City Council’s ability to review and approve items related to the navigation center.

Staff have launched a webpage, EngageAurora.org/NavigationCampus, to provide frequent updates and resources throughout the project process. The site is also dedicated to taking questions from community members.

The city-owned land near E. 32nd Ave. and Chambers Road, where staff had previously planned to construct the navigation campus, will instead be used for other city services.