The Huntley Outlet Center has become a sea of contradictions.
Consider these highly contrasting situations regarding this 30-year-old center: 1) the village still has no information on whether Simon Properties, which owns the mall, plans to upgrade the infrastructure, and village officials have shifted into a “move on” mode looking to the future. 2) flipping the coin over, two new stores have moved into the facility, some minor repairs have been made, and Rick Scardino and Associates, the mall’s leasing agent, continues to market the center aggressively to area retailers.
The future of the Huntley Outlet Mall remains uncertain. (Photo by Chris LaPelusa/Sun Day)
Earlier this summer, Darna Furniture and Gustos Fun House, a locally owned party and magic products retailer, opened for business in the center. They are only the second and third new businesses to arrive at the center in the past two years, and nearly two-thirds of the center’s spaces remain vacant.
The village has begun thinking long-range about the center. The village board recently hired a Deerfield real estate research firm to investigate potential reuses or redevelopment options, if new opportunities for the site develop in the future. The firm is Gruen Gruen and Associates, which provides specialty research and consulting services regarding commercial development to communities throughout the Chicago area.
According to the May 20 contract between the village and Guerin, the firm is working to define potential reuse-redevelopment options for the outlet mall site, including the land area and values, building area, rentable space possibilities, and estimated redevelopment and demolition costs.
“The village cannot control what happens to the center now, but we are gathering information to help us plan for the future uses for the site, if and when redevelopment possibilities become available,” said Margo Griffin, business development coordinator for the village. “Simon purchased a number of mall sites a number of years ago, and the Huntley center was part of the package. The Huntley site may not have been their top priority at the time,” Griffin said. “It may not be now, either.”
Two Sun City residents have been seriously injured in recent falls on uneven and deteriorating walking areas at the center. Other residents have been critical of the center’s condition and vacancies and have said they have stopped shopping there. A recent inspection of the center revealed, however, that some of the uneven sidewalk sections have been patched or repaired and signs have been installed at several locations, warning pedestrians of uneven areas. In addition, landscaped garden areas near the front of the mall are being maintained in good condition.
