Aurora plans new public safety campus expansion

The city of Aurora is advancing its plan to create a new public safety campus. This project will expand the current police department headquarters and include a new headquarters for the Aurora Fire Department. Aurora Mayor Richard Irvin first announced this initiative during his State of the City address in June 2024. The aim is to enhance public safety and community engagement. Recently, the city council's Building, Zoning and Economic Development Committee approved the early steps for the project. Cost estimates for the campus are still being developed and will be shared in the future. Fire Chief David McCabe has noted that the new headquarters will provide much-needed office space and better facilities for training, which are currently limited at the department's existing location. The new fire headquarters will feature a two-story building of about 29,800 square feet. It will include four garage doors for fire trucks, along with office space for the Aurora Emergency Medical Agency. Additional plans include a bigger parking lot and a new entrance for larger vehicles. The enhancements will allow the fire and police departments to communicate more effectively and improve response times across the city. The campus will also feature walking paths, solar panels, and fuel dispensers for emergency vehicles. A final ordinance related to the project will be discussed in the upcoming city council meeting, where the process will continue.