The Heart of Aurora is Downtown Aurora

Welcome to the story of our town using interactive data and visuals. Aurora has grown since it was a small settlement, and this story map takes you on a time travel.

Video Note: The 'Time Travel' video provides a brief overview of the history of Aurora, the downtown and the developments underway. Created during the pandemic, the video highlights the Aurora Town Square project that will be officially opening in this September! Enjoy your time travel!

For more information about Aurora Town Square, click here:  Aurora Town Square .

Continue to scroll down to learn more about the Past historical development of the Town, the Present built form and demographics of our community, and what's in store for the Town in the Future.

The Town of Aurora recently updated its  Official Plan  to guide growth and development decisions until 2051. This section outlines the town's future plans and what makes the Promenade unique.

(Fun Fact: The Town's first Official Plan was in 1977, over 120 years after the Town became 'official'. See ' Recognizing our Past ' for the full story!)

A component of the Official Plan update is a review of the Secondary Promenade Plan for the downtown area, as well as the designation of the Aurora Go Station as a Major Transit Station Area (MTSA).

The Aurora Secondary Plan aims to establish a clear vision for managing growth. This plan provides an opportunity to create a framework that balances planned growth and vibrancy while preserving and enhancing the area's key characteristics. It also ensures appropriate built-form transitions to adjacent low-rise residential areas.

The Town recently launched the  Aurora Digital Twi n, an interactive simulation tool that provides 3D and real time data in a visual format. Visitors to the Aurora Digital Twin can see real weather, air quality data, trails, parks and more. As data is added to the tool, Town leaders will be able to simulate scenarios to inform decisions.  Visit the Aurora Digital Twin  to see for yourself!

Video note: The Aurora Digital Twin video below is a teaser video showing some of the current capabilities, with more data added over time. To access the live tool visit:  www.aurora.ca/digitaltwin .

The demographic dashboard reflects the estimates for the Town of Aurora comparing demographic data from the downtown core versus the whole town. We can see the comparative advantages of the core and what makes it so important as a center of growth.

Findings for Downtown compared to the entire town

• Larger older population
• More one-person households
• Significantly more renters
• 86% of development were completed before the 1980s

The Aurora Promenade is set to capitalize on its current assets and evolve into a vibrant center for residential living, shopping, working, and leisure activities. The area will be a vibrant hub for residential living, shopping, work, and leisure activities. It will encourage exploration by foot or bicycle and serve as a focal point for socializing, shopping, and entertainment. The area will showcase the town's best offerings and provide a charming small-town setting for experiencing a refined culture.

As the population has grown, and will continue to grow, so too has interest in arts, culture, preservation of heritage and creating a unique downtown.

The policies of the Aurora Promenade Secondary Plan are based on the Aurora Promenade Urban Design Strategy. The main purpose of the Urban Design Strategy is to guide and manage growth, with the intent to set out a detailed approach for revitalizing the Yonge and Wellington corridors and provide a framework to ensure change occurs appropriately. The Strategy is also intended to serve as a long-term guide for ongoing public realm improvements and to inform Secondary Plan policies with a planning horizon of 2031.

The Aurora Promenade Urban Design Strategy identifies four Character Areas based on similar defining elements identified within the land use designations.

• Downtown
• Downtown Shoulder
• Promenade General
• Wellington Street Promenade (Major Transit Station Area)

In each character area, there are specific focus areas. These are locations where opportunities arise based on current or potential land uses and built characteristics. They serve as identifiable focal points for services, amenities, community entryway features, and cultural heritage preservation. Detailed descriptions of these focus areas will be provided for each character area.

Click on the list below to see the key objectives of each area, and its focus areas.

There is great momentum with current projects and inviting events that will create further interest in helping to create Downtown Aurora as a destination.

To plan for the future, we must first acknowledge and respect our Past.

Land Acknowledgement

The Town of Aurora acknowledges that the Anishinaabe lands on which we live and work are the traditional and treaty territory of the Chippewas of Georgina Island, as well as many other Nations whose presence here continues to this day. As the closest First Nation community to Aurora, we recognize the special relationship the Chippewas have with the lands and waters of this territory. They are the water protectors and environmental stewards of these lands, and as a municipality we join them in these responsibilities.

We further acknowledge that Aurora is part of the  treaty  lands of the Mississaugas and Chippewas, recognized through Treaty #13 as well as the Williams Treaties of 1923.

A shared understanding of the rich cultural heritage that has existed for centuries, and how our collective past brought us to where we are today, will help us walk together into a better future.

Late 18 ^th  Century

In 1793, the extension of Yonge Street from Toronto to Lake Simcoe was a means to secure trade and communication routes. Aurora is one of several settlements that grew up along this route.  There was a small hamlet at the corner of Yonge and Wellington Streets as early as 1834. Richard Machell became the first merchant at the crossroads of Yonge and Wellington and the hamlet soon became known as Machell’s Corners.

In 1854, the hamlet was officially named Aurora. Charles Doan, another business leader, became the first postmaster and helped to name the town. Aurora began to emerge as an important settlement in 1853 when the Ontario, Simcoe and Huron railway was developing from Toronto, initially terminating in Aurora on Wellington just east of Yonge. The original train station building still stands at the Aurora station as a nod to the historic stop along the north-south line.

The village continued to expand and on January 1, 1888, the Village of Aurora officially became a Town. The core area of Aurora has traditionally been centered on Yonge Street and Wellington, with Yonge Street having the primary commercial focus from the creek to Maple Street. Aurora has always been both prosperous and attractive.

 Learn more about the collection of movers and shakers of Aurora's past, compiled by Aurora Museum and Archives. 

In the early 1900s, Aurora's population was flourishing, with 1,590 residents according to the 1901 census. The town experienced additional growth and development, especially after World War II, and this pattern has persisted over time.

Throughout the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Aurora experienced cultural and social development. Institutions such as schools, churches, and community organizations were established, contributing to the town's sense of identity and community spirit.

Mid 20 ^th  Century

In the post-World War II period, Aurora underwent significant urbanization and suburbanization as Toronto's metropolitan area expanded. Residential development, including the construction of suburban housing subdivisions, encouraged population growth and transformed the town's landscape.

Aurora has experienced a strong and steady growth rate of 2.3 percent annually in population since 1976, and 2.5 to 3.0 percent in housing stock.

The urbanized area of Aurora has developed a land use pattern that reflects three important shaping influences.

1. The Town's historic development around the Yonge/Wellington intersection and the railway
2. The strength of the Yonge Street movement corridor
3. The natural characteristics of the site.

Other Facts:

• Residential growth has occurred west of Yonge Street, north and south of the downtown
• Industrial growth has also been strong, with an 84 percent increase in industrial employment since 1974, occurring east of Yonge Street in controlled industrial subdivisions, served by the rail line.
• New commercial development has occurred in a series of small shopping plazas from Yonge Street, stretching north and south of the older core area.

With the rapid growth of Aurora, economic impact challenges that are being experienced in Aurora's core area and are mirrored by the physical changes to the pattern of the downtown.

 Late 20th Century

The Town of Aurora approved its first official plan in 1977. Since then, the plan has set a framework to shape Aurora into its present form. The plan emphasizes revitalizing the core commercial district, with key objectives such as promoting medium and high-density housing near the central core and recognizing the Central Business District as a vital service, business, and cultural center.

The Town possesses numerous physical assets that can be developed to enhance its vitality and appeal. The Official Plan identifies enabling policies to capitalize on these assets.

Overall, the first official plan for Aurora's downtown aims to create a vibrant, high-quality, and pedestrian-friendly commercial hub while preserving its historic charm and fostering sustainable growth. These objectives serve as a basis for the Downtown Secondary Revitalization Plan.

Thank you for exploring the Downtown Aurora Story Map!

The Town of Aurora will experience significant growth over the next 20+ years, but with a key strategy to keep its small town charm! Aurorans are proud of their history, culture and innovation in preserving and revitalizing the downtown as a focal point for the town's planned growth.

To learn more about the Town of Aurora and to get ongoing updates, please visit:  aurora.ca .