Editing Aurora, Cayuga County, New York (section)

==Changes and controversies since 2000==
[[File:AuroraInn680.jpg|thumb|right|The Aurora Inn]]

In 2000, the board of Wells College endorsed a master plan that proposed two new buildings, demolition of some existing modern buildings and moving some historic brick buildings. They also voted to close the historic [[Aurora Inn]] on Main Street and look for a private developer to redevelop and manage it. The college's proposed changes raised concerns, especially as some of the properties and master plan were within the historic district.<ref name="Brad Edmondson, All Dolled Up" />

In 2001, entrepreneur [[Pleasant Rowland]] together with Wells College founded the Aurora Foundation and teamed up to renovate the Aurora Inn. They acquired additional properties to renovate, including the [[E. B. Morgan House]]. In press accounts, Rowland expressed her vision of enhancing the historic character and attractiveness of the community, and of improving the local economy.  Founder of the enormously successful "American Girl" dolls, she was a 1962 alumna of Wells College.<ref>[http://www.cnn.com/2007/LIVING/wayoflife/10/14/aurora.makeover.ap/index.html "No storybook ending after tycoon dolls up village"] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071208094217/http://www.cnn.com/2007/LIVING/wayoflife/10/14/aurora.makeover.ap/index.html |date=December 8, 2007 }}, CNN, October 14, 2007</ref>

Rowland's and the Aurora Foundation's projects have drawn some criticism and concern. Because the village is so small, its fate and governance are already intertwined with Wells College, which owns half the land in the village. Critics felt that the foundation was too quick to renovate some historic structures and did not follow necessary review procedures, including that required by the State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA).<ref name="Brad Edmondson, All Dolled Up" />

The critics founded the Aurora Coalition and brought suit to stop the renovation of the inn and demolition of a neighboring grocery. The [[National Trust for Historic Preservation]] and the [[Preservation League of New York]] joined the suit because of concerns that local government was not paying enough attention to state laws requiring thorough review of projects in historic districts.<ref name="Brad Edmondson, All Dolled Up" /> The controversy continued as the foundation and proposed renovation projects gained national attention. Because some affected buildings were listed on the [[National Register of Historic Places]], interested parties outside the community needed to review the renovations, which increased interest in the projects.<ref name="Brad Edmondson, All Dolled Up" /><ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/2001/05/18/nyregion/18AURO.html? "Big Change Is Bearing Down on Small Town"], ''New York Times'', Jun 2001</ref><ref>[http://chronicle.com/free/v48/i21/21a02301.htm ''Chronicle of Higher Education'']</ref>

Critics were concerned about Rowland's not being a native to the area, despite her time there while attending Wells College from 1958 to 1962. They complained that she had not been accessible for consultation with the community. There was an underlying concern that Rowland's wealth allowed her to impose a vision on the community.<ref>[http://www.aurorany.org/happyland.html ''Morning Edition''], National Public Radio  {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120712082037/http://www.aurorany.org/happyland.html |date=July 12, 2012 }}</ref>

The State Supreme Court ruled against the Aurora Coalition and allowed the renovation of the Aurora Inn to proceed. The Appeals Court allowed the lower court's decision to stand.<ref name="Brad Edmondson, All Dolled Up" />

Continuing economic problems in central New York and residents' differing ideas about the village kept the controversy alive. The issues served as inspiration for the satirical novel ''[https://web.archive.org/web/20120712082037/http://www.aurorany.org/happyland.html Happyland]'', by author [[J. Robert Lennon]]. It began running in serial form in ''[[Harper's Magazine]]'' in July 2006.<ref>[http://www.aurorany.org/Happyland.html Nancy Geyer, "There is no Happyland"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120712082037/http://www.aurorany.org/happyland.html |date=July 12, 2012 }}, ''Ithaca Times'', August 2, 2006, accessed April 10, 2009</ref>

In May 2007, Rowland ended her association with Wells College and shut down the Aurora Foundation. Spokespeople said redevelopment of the village was substantially completed. Although Rowland put the local home decor firm [[MacKenzie-Childs]] up for sale, she also purchased an additional building in the village and set up a new limited liability corporation to operate her properties.<ref>[http://www.auburnpub.com/articles/2007/09/15/news/local_news/news04.txt Shane M. Liebler, "Rowland buys more of Aurora"], ''The Citizen'', Auburn.com, September 14, 2007, accessed April 10, 2009</ref>

In October 2013, Rowland took personal ownership of all the properties that she renovated for Wells College and purchased several other properties to the degree that she currently owns the entire village business district along with other commercial properties.