AURORA, Illinois. – After 54 years of quiet halls, three old schools in Aurora have found a new purpose.

It was almost two years ago when work began on an affordable housing complex at the former Todd Elementary School, which had stood vacant for five years.

The 11 units now house families with annual incomes between $18,000 and $63,000, and the building is at capacity.

Another former school building is due to open in a few days.

“The second building is called Lincoln Elementary School and has been vacant for 15 years. It will actually open next week, September 4th,” said Clayton Muhammad, senior adviser to Mayor Richard Irvin.

Between the two buildings, 47 new apartments were added to the Aurora community.

Another former school, the Emmanuel Lutheran School, which officially closed in 1990, is being reopened. Although not as a school, the focus will continue to be on the children.

“It’s in the heart of the East Side, in a part of the city that didn’t really have a youth center. And we closed our largest youth center there about 12 years ago,” Muhammad said.

The Aurora Housing Authority’s development arm, the Northern Lights Development Corporation, purchased the former school with a $350,000 grant from the state and city. Inside, the Northern Lights Youth Center offers a gymnasium, weight room and various educational resources.

The youth center also includes a comprehensive program for preschool through high school, STEM training programs, construction trade programs and arts programs.

The grand opening and ribbon cutting for the Northern Lights Youth Center took place on Sunday evening.