AURORA | Businesses on East Colfax Avenue in North Aurora will soon have more in common than numbers in a zip code.
Around 600 businesses along the Colfax corridor will soon become members of Fax Aurora, a nonprofit business association and adjunct to the Aurora Chamber of Commerce set to launch at the end of August.
The goals of the association are to promote the diverse, small businesses of Original Aurora, attract non-Aurora residents to the area, as well as act as a voice and communication platform for business owners, according to Bob Hagedorn, president of Fax Aurora.
“There is the potential to economically develop (Colfax) into a ‘Colfax Cultural Corridor,’ a polyglot of diverse businesses (significantly restaurants and product-selling stores) appealing to the city’s diverse populations,” Hagedorn said in a statement.
At a recent city council session, the city approved $65,000 to be used over a two-and-a-half year period to fund Fax Aurora. The association will be allocated $30,000 per year for the first two years, and $15,000 for the final six months of the agreement.
Membership to the association will be free for the first two years. A $10 monthly fee will be added at the beginning of the third year for businesses that elect to continue their membership.
Membership services will initially include access to a community message board on the Fax Aurora website, which could launch in the first week in September, as well as a monthly newsletter and invitations to regular meetings.
Business owners’ response to the new association has been
divided.
“We’ve had a lot of mixed reactions, but that’s what we anticipated,” Hagedorn said.
Owners who are onboard with the agreement, such as Scott Pasternack, owner of Pasternack’s Pawn Shop, are excited to have access to an avenue to be heard.
“I’d love to just have a voice in this area,” Pasternack said. “I want to have more of a voice in the urban renewal stuff they’re doing.”
However, Pasternack said there has to be more than the offer of effective communication to make the association successful.
“I want to be heard, but there has to be something else down here,” he said. “Whether it be trash cans or more advertising, there has to be something to make it more inviting.”
In addition to Pasternack, other business owners have cited the breadth of the association’s geographic area, the failure of past associations, timing, and improper use of resources as some of Fax Aurora’s possible shortcomings.
“It’s a good idea, but it’s a year or two premature,” Doug Adams of Cornerstone Equity said. “They need to spend a little more time and really spell out the benefits to the community. It’s been a little bit too rushed.”
Nebulousness surrounding the benefits of the association also concerned Cobina Lartson, CEO of Afrikmall, the commercial center of African businesses currently under construction. He expressed concern over redundancies between the association and the Chamber.
“I need to understand why I should join an association, especially if it’s part of the Chamber,” he said. “It’s sounds kind of like the Chamber isn’t doing
something.”
Councilwoman Molly Markert, a vocal critic of the plan, said that she believes the money being used to fund Fax Aurora could be better used to address some of the other issues in the area.
“What angers me is that it’s money that can be used for something useful like cops or trash cans,” she said. “Why not put that money into Montview or another shelter or public restrooms?”
Markert added that the proposed borders of the association, Yosemite Street to the west, Chambers Road to the east, Montview Boulevard to the north, and East Sixth Avenue to the south, are too broad.
“If you research what makes these successful, it’s small geographic areas that benefit property owners,” she said. There are almost no owner/occupant businesses on Colfax, which makes it hard.”
Hagedorn said he is aware of the difficulties in persuading business owners of the utility of Fax Aurora, and is keenly mindful of the stigma surrounding past business associations on Colfax, particularly the now-defunct Northern Aurora Business Association.
“We are very much aware of the history of NABA, and it has made having a realistic approach to future funding critical,” Hagedorn said.
Formerly the Downtown Aurora Business Association, NABA ceased to exist in 2010 following a steady decline in member-participation and financial vitality.
“We’re always keeping our eyes two-and-a-half years out,” Hagedorn said of the economic lifespan of the association. “Worst-case scenario this thing is just not working the way we envision, in which case we are going to have some very serious conversations.”
In the meantime, Hagedorn is looking forward to furthering Aurora’s impact on the longest, continuous commercial street in the country.
“There are exciting times happening on Colfax,” he said. “From the work in Lakewood to certain parts of Denver to what our city is doing — it’s going to be very vibrant.”
Reporter Rachel Sapin contributed to this report.
How nice of Mr. Hagadorn to volunteer his time and expertise to help north Aurora. If he can only gain the cooperation and commitment of the businesses to form a BID to enhance, improve and to promote the area. Mr. Hagadorn has the quintessential model for a BID in the Havana BID.
One can only hope Mr. Hagadorn is as diligent in seeking guidance as he has been in seeking city funds.