AURORA HOUSING AUTHORITY/ LIBERTY VIEW APARTMENTS AURORA, CO

Background

 Aurora Housing Authority (AHA) was established in 1975 by the City of Aurora. It is a quasi-governmental agency, separate from the City of Aurora, with a seven-member Board of Commissioners appointed by Mayor. The mission of the Housing Authority of the City of Aurora is to develop and promote quality housing while supporting and encouraging economic opportunities leading to self-sufficiency and independence. The agency owns and operates 810 units of affordable housing and administers over 2,200 housing vouchers. AHA is developing another 231 units to add to this inventory.

Veterans Housing

In 2018, Aurora Housing Authority was awarded a proposal by the Colorado Department of Human Services to develop 2.3 acres to the north of the Veterans Community Living Center at Fitzsimons. (Fitzsimons was founded as an Army Medical Facility in 1918, closed in 1999, and has been undergoing redevelopment since then.) In November of 2020, AHA received an award of tax credits to develop the parcel with a four-story building consisting of 59 units of independent, senior (62+) apartments for veterans and their immediate families. Building amenities include a community room, library/computer room, workout room, and laundry facilities. Community gardens and a patio will enhance the exterior of the building.

 The residential campus will offer a continuum of housing options, including independent, senior living through Aurora Housing Authority, permanent supportive housing through Colorado Coalition for the Homeless, and skilled nursing through the Colorado Department of Human Services.

 The site is near bus routes and light rail lines and will include Electrical Vehicle (EV) ready parking spaces. Veterans and their families can take full advantage of medical care offered at the VA hospital and live in a community honoring and enhancing their lives.

 The staff of AHA includes veterans and families of veterans who take to heart the issues veterans are facing today. The goal of this housing project is to provide a welcoming, warm, and safe community where veterans can access affordable housing and live near quality medical care. This project represents 14 years of work by the Housing Authority and the City of Aurora to manifest commitments made when the Fitzsimons Army Base closed.

AURORA, CO

Aurora is the third largest city in Colorado, spanning three counties in the eastern Denver-Aurora Metropolitan Area. Aurora embraces a highly diverse population of over 386,000 residents who enjoy access to quality education, Colorado's natural beauty and active lifestyle, and an array of cultural amenities within the context of a vibrant and growing community. Aurora is home to top national employers in aerospace and defense, bioscience, healthcare, and alternative energy.
Situated on prairie grasslands, rolling hills and the northern tip of the Black Forest, Aurora offers a unique quality of life that blends a traditional sense of community with a range of outdoor and leisure activities. Residents enjoy a wealth of opportunities and are proud to call Aurora home.

PUBLIC ART OPPORTUNITY

 The Aurora Housing Authority and Aurora’s Art in Public Places Program have a history of working together to provide public art within the context of affordable housing.  This history has inspired the two programs to work together, both contributing funding to commission original work for the Liberty View Apartments.

 The partnership envisions establishing a celebratory community space for Veterans and their families. This artwork will complete AHA's vision for the site by honoring and enhancing the lives of Veterans and their families.

 The goal is to activate the space adjacent to the community garden encircled by a walking trail. This work should be celebratory and embody an inclusive, colorful, and inviting space that multigenerational friends, families, and communities will enjoy. This work should generate feelings of togetherness and excitement while encouraging residents to create memories with loved ones. 

 This work shall not serve as a memorial.

Application Requirements

Material

Materials must be durable and appropriate for exterior applications within the Front Range climate of Colorado. Annually, temperatures range from sub-zero to more than 100 degrees, and temperatures can span more than 40 degrees within a day, or even a few hours. Snow, hail, wind, and extreme sun are all environmental issues to contend with when proposing exterior art projects for this area. 

Budget: $44,000.00

The budget includes design, fabrication, transportation, installation, and any other costs associated with this project.

Tentative Timeline

·       Deadline for completed applications to be received: October 17th

·       Finalists notified: November 1st

·       Finalists Virtual Presentations: TBD

·       Multi-level approval process completed: TBD

·       It is desirable that the artwork be completed and installed by November 2023 to coincide with a Veteran’s Day reveal.

 Application Materials

·       6-8 images of relevant work. Do not submit conceptual proposals.  They will not be reviewed.

·       Professional Resume

·       Statement of Interest (Why this project is of interest to you)

·       Open ONLY to Artists who live and work in Colorado.

Eligibility Criteria

SELECTION PROCESS AND MATERIALS

 Aurora’s Public Art Staff manages the selection process. All applications must be submitted through the CAFÉ System of the Western States Arts Federation. This application process is free. No hard copies will be accepted. This call is open to artists who are legally residing in COLORADO. 

 Phase One:   The Selection Panel will identify the most qualified applicants based on the selection criteria listed below. From this pool of submissions, three finalists will be selected. 

 Phase Two:   Three finalists will each receive a $2,500 honorarium to participate in an optional site visit, develop a formal proposal, and participate in a virtual interview. Finalists will be given the opportunity to ask detailed questions and participate in discussions with the Selection Panel which includes project stakeholders. 

 Phase Three: The Selection Panel will recommend the selected applicant to the Art in Public Places Commission for their approval.