AURORA | The slow-going Afrikmall commercial project on East Colfax Avenue is getting another economic boost from the City of Aurora.
During the Monday, Nov. 23, regular session, Aurora City Council unanimously approved an agreement with Northstar Commercial Partners to provide $165,000 in sales tax incentives for the Afrikmall project.
According to city documents, the developer has invested more than $1.65 million thus far to redevelop the building and bring along units for the commercial development.
“I was able to walk through a month ago, it’s absolutely beautiful,” said Councilwoman Sally Mounier, whose ward encompasses the project. “What they’ve done, and the colors, and what they plan on doing, it’s going to be a wonderful addition to Colfax and our arts district.”
Last July, organizers of the massive new Afrikmall development at 10180 E. Colfax Ave. hosted a grand opening celebration for the new mall at a location a few blocks to the north.
But the opening has been anything but “grand” for the project in the months since July, with several building inspection and permitting issues having delayed actual stores from opening inside the massive space.
The new mall is situated in the Aurora Cultural Arts District, which for years has been trying to rehabilitate the once-gritty stretch of Colfax Avenue into a hub of arts and entertainment.
The 56,000-square-foot mall has long been an important project for city officials, who hope it not only becomes a major cultural draw, but also sees a sprawling and high-profile building on East Colfax Avenue converted back into something useful.
— Aurora Sentinel Reporter Brandon Johansson contributed to this story.