History meets contemporary in downtown updates

HUNTLEY – More than a century ago, Huntley’s development as a significant municipality took off.

Today, it’s time for redevelopment.

During the last 15 years, unprecedented commercial, residential, and industrial expansion on Route 47, I-90, and outlying parts of the village have ballooned Huntley’s population to about 25,000 and have dramatically expanded its commercial base. In the last year, the village has turned more of its attention to its downtown core. Three major projects will transfer the area around James Dhamer Square into a modern municipality that retains some of its historical roots.

Billitteri Enterprises’ commercial building replaces Sawyer-Kelley mill. While maintaining a quaint exterior, it offers new businesses modern interiors. (Photo by Chris LaPelusa/Sun Day)

One of these projects is well underway and will be completed this spring, another will start in April, and a third has been planned but is on hold (temporarily, the village hopes) pending a review by newly elected state officials.

The first project of this three-part transformation is a 5,400-square-foot multi-tenant commercial building at 11801 Main St., about one block east of Route 47 and east of the municipal parking lot, near Parkside Pub. This building replaces a prominent historical landmark, the former Sawyer-Kelley mill that was built in 1892 by W.G. Sawyer and John Kelley, two early entrepreneurs that helped develop Huntley. This $1 million project is being built by Billitteri Enterprises, LLC, a commercial developer.

Two of the tenants are Morkes Chocolates, coming from Barrington this summer, and Huntley optometrist Dr. Mindy Nguyen, whose Huntley Eye Care business is relocating this spring from the Village Green shopping center at Oak Creek Parkway and Route 47. A third tenant will be announced soon, according to Victor Narusis, village director of business recruitment.

“Architecturally, this building is very much in keeping with the look of the south side of the square,” Narusis said. “The inside spaces will offer modern specifications, but the exteriors have a retro look to resemble an early 20th century structure. It is our way of modernizing while retaining and recreating a historical appearance.”

The second part of this trifecta is a $4 million streetscape enhancement project that is scheduled to get underway early this spring, Narusis said. It will give the area around Main, Dwyer, Woodstock, and Coral Streets, on the west end of the square, a new look. It will include the area bounded by 2nd Street on the north, Church Street on the east, Main Street on the south, and Dwyer and Woodstock Streets on the west.

The project consists of relocation of overhead utility poles to less prominent locations and placing some underground, water and sewer improvements, new pedestrian lighting, widened sidewalks, enhanced landscaping, planting of dozens of new trees, new medians on all roadways, decorative barrier rails, tree grates on most streets, a carriage walk, brick crosswalks, and brick pavers on some walkways. Bike racks and wayfinding signs also will be added.

The municipal parking lot south of the businesses on Main Street will be expanded.

“All of this is part of our long-term downtown revitalization effort,” said Narusis. “This is the first major redevelopment or improvement of any site in the downtown area in a long time.”

An Amtrak depot is the third phase of these downtown projects. The village, the railway passenger company, and the state of Illinois are combining on a project to build new track and passenger stations along a northwest corridor running between downtown Chicago and Rockford. A site for a station on the present Union Pacific Railroad tracks south of Main Street in downtown Huntley has been selected. But implementation of the plan was halted in January when new Gov. Bruce Rauner put all state construction projects on hold pending further review.

The village hopes the delay will be only temporary, Narusis said last week. The station would be located immediately south of the municipal parking lot behind Parkside Pub and the Village Inn.

Also on the subject of rail service, Metra, the Chicago area’s commuter railway service, has put station expansion plans on hold while it works through internal political and funding issues, according to Narusis.

“Metra is making big changes in its priorities in personnel, since recent scandals involving its top executives were uncovered,” Narusis said. “It is uncertain when, or if, any planned projects involving Huntley will be revived.”

Proposals for a Metra station at either Coyne Station Road and the UOP tracks or Kreutzer Road are still alive “as far as we know,” Narusis said.

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