Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP) presents the Regional Excellence Awards for Equity with Impact to the City of Aurora and Fox Valley Developers’ Bloomhaven Development Project in Aurora. Connected to the development project is Bardwell Residences managed by Gardant Management Solutions. Bardwell Residences of Aurora is an independent living, assisted living, and memory care community in Kane County.
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The Bloomhaven development in Aurora turned a blighted health facility, originally built in 1888, into a mixed-use development delivering essential services and amenities to residents of different ages and abilities.
Bloomhaven features Weston Bridges, a first-of-its kind independent living community for people with intellectual, cognitive, and developmental disabilities, and the Bardwell Senior Living Residences, an independent Assisted Living and Memory Care community for seniors. East Aurora School District 131 operates its headquarters on site, and a park and playground connecting to the surrounding neighborhood with trails and walking paths.
The project, created by Fox Valley Developers and championed by city officials, represents a $129 million investment in Aurora’s neighborhood. It has turned a 330,000 square-foot health facility that had been vacant since the mid-1990s into an innovative living community, helping revitalize the area for the residents there and the surrounding communities.
ABOUT CHICAGO METROPOLITAN AGENGY FOR PLANNING
The Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP) is our region’s comprehensive planning organization. The agency and its partners developed and are now implementing ON TO 2050, a new long-range plan to help the seven counties and 284 communities of northeastern Illinois implement strategies that address transportation, housing, economic development, open space, the environment, and other quality-of-life issues.
The CMAP Regional Excellence Awards program offers a unique opportunity for municipal leaders, nonprofits, transportation agencies, and advocates to have their exceptional work recognized by peers from across northeastern Illinois. CMAP looks forward to celebrating our region’s accomplishments in spring 2023 and honoring our partners who improve the quality of life for our 8.5 million residents in northeastern Illinois.
Award criteria
Equity with Impact Award
Recognizes a plan, project, or initiative that advances inclusive regional growth and investment. A nominated project should demonstrate at least two of the following criteria:
- Improved quality of life for residents in the region’s economically disconnected areas
- Strengthened economic opportunities for people of color and residents who live in communities with low incomes.
- Created tangible results that addressed regional inequities.
- Used inclusive public engagement and innovative practices that can be replicated elsewhere.
Partners for Progress Award
Recognizes a collaborative, multi-jurisdictional plan, project, or initiative that targets regional investment in fiscally sound and equitable ways. A nominated project should demonstrate at least two of the following criteria:
- Improved regional systems and networks that address transportation, housing, natural environments, or water conservation.
- Managed public revenues sustainably to maximize regional benefits.
- Prioritized collaboration among organizations from different communities
- Incorporated innovative practices that can be replicated elsewhere.
Regional Resilience Award
Recognizes a plan, project, or initiative that helps communities prepare for and recover from economic or environmental challenges. A nominated project should demonstrate at least two of the following criteria:
- Strengthened the capacity of communities, infrastructure, and operations to anticipate or respond to challenges.
- Strengthened resiliency to address the rising risks of climate change.
- Created tangible results that addressed regional challenges.
- Incorporated innovative practices that can be replicated elsewhere.
Visionary Leader Award
Recognizes a person or organization whose leadership has made northeastern Illinois more inclusive, resilient, and economically competitive. A nomination should demonstrate the following criteria:
- Accomplishments or projects that reflect at least one of CMAP’s core values — serving with passion, pursuing equity, fostering collaboration, leading with excellence, and driving innovation.
- Examples that show how the vision was implemented and how it upheld at least one of ON TO 2050’s principles — inclusive growth, resilience, and prioritized investment.
To learn more visit https://www.cmap.illinois.gov/regional-excellence-awards/2023-winners.
If you have any questions about the nomination process, please email StateOfTheRegion@cmap.illinois.gov.
