Aurora Mayor Richard Irvin reads from a statement during Tuesday’s media briefing on renewed efforts to removed registered child sex offenders from Wayside Cross Ministries.

The City of Aurora has revived efforts to remove 19 registered child sex offenders from a downtown shelter.

The Oct. 31 dismissal of a federal lawsuit that temporarily halted removals ordered last summer led the city to issue a new declaration that calls for the 19 sex offenders to leave their residence at Wayside Cross Ministries, 215 E. New York St, by mid-January.

At issue is Wayside Cross Ministries’ close proximity to McCarty Park, a downtown green space also considered a children’s’ playground. State law prohibits child sex offenders from residing within 500 feet of parks or schools, including daycare centers.

“This is no personal vendetta against Wayside on my part or the part of my administration, period,” said Aurora Mayor Richard Irvin at a Tuesday media briefing at City Hall as he praised Wayside’s work for nearly a century with persons who are homeless, addicted, abused or otherwise at-risk.

But the presence of child sex offenders took the city by surprise.

“The realization of so many child sex offenders at Wayside (last summer) was a complete shock to all of us at City Hall,” Irvin said.

On Sunday, Aurora Police initiated the removal process.

“The Aurora Police Department notified the 19 child sex offenders who currently reside at Wayside Cross that they must relocate to a compliant residence by January 15th, 2020,” police said in a statement. “After that time, the police department will notify the State’s Attorney, who may, upon investigation, authorize the prosecution of any child sex offender who is residing at Wayside Cross.”

Sex offenders residing at Wayside Cross received a similar notice last July, but affected parties filed a federal lawsuit and Aurora efforts were placed on hold.

Attorneys for the residents withdrew the suit on Oct. 31 and it was subsequently dismissed, according to Aurora officials.

Wayside Cross had no immediate comment, but more than two dozen people took to social media to offer reactions.

“I just don’t understand why they want them in the streets instead of in a center that is helping and monitoring them,” wrote one person on Facebook. “Terrible to do especially right before Christmas. Sending prayers.”

Another Facebook user wrote: “Praying that God will give Wayside, and especially each of these men, abundant grace, hope, and peace. May He bring beauty and order out of chaos. May He provide for every practical need and every spiritual need.”