HUNTLEY – There’s a once-popular song that goes, “Everything’s up to date in Kansas City.”
In Huntley, that title could be changed slightly: “There is always something new in Huntley.”
This is the latest update of new development in Huntley, (there will be many more). Jewel-Osco, the Huntley American Legion, businessman Mike Skala, Alden Senior Living Network, among others, are all busy changing the village’s landscape, and surrounding Sun City with an ever-growing number of new facilities and resources.
The first Jewel grocery store opened at Village Green in Huntley about 15 years ago. Soon, there will be two Jewel stores in the village. The Huntley e-news recently revealed that Jewel-Osco appeared before the village board and plan commission to present conceptual site plans and building elevations for a new 62,700-square-foot grocery store at the northeast corner of Route 47 and Reed Road. Like the existing Village Green store, the new one will include a Starbucks coffee shop, a cafe, and a seating area. It also will have a drive-thru Osco pharmacy.
Final village approvals are expected to take place soon.
The new project and parking lot will be located behind the Walgreen’s Pharmacy.
Map marks proposed zoning and expansion of land surrounding I-90 i change. (Click to enlarge)
“This project will bring a much desired anchor tenant to the north side of town and is expected to spur additional economic development interest to this growing area of the village,” the newsletter said.
This new project’s cost is estimated at $17 million. In addition, Jewel also plans to invest $1.5 million to renovate the existing store.
Secondly, over at the Huntley Town Square, the American Legion is making news by revealing plans for a 722-square-foot addition to its existing building at 11712 Coral Street. The Legion group and BBQ King are turning the north wide of the square into a construction zone for the next few months. BBQ King recently began construction on a barbecue restaurant east of the Legion Hall, and a source says the two organizations will construct side by side this winter and next spring.
The Legion addition will be located on the east side of the existing building and will include reconfigured bathrooms and an expanded bar area.
“We also plan to provide a handicap-accessible ramp to the rear parking lot and a nearly four-foot-high brick wall to enclose a future honor garden, which will be an outdoor seating area for awhile,” said Mike Stojak, legion commander. “The addition will have windows on three sides and will include a brick base to match the existing building, hard-board siding, and Hunter Green colored standing seam metal roof.”
The Huntley legion group currently has about 280 members and the hall is a frequent and popular gathering place for special community events.
One of the biggest projects in the village has reached the finishing stages. Alden Realty Services is in the final part of its 14-acre “Huntley Horizon” senior living and healthcare project at Regency Square Parkway and Princeton Drive.
This project, located right on Sun City’s doorstep, is opening its facilities in three stages. Fifteen one-story villas for independent living were occupied in September. A three-story, 64-unit apartment building will open its doors in December. A 110-bed skilled nursing care facility and a 60-bed memory care structure will open early next year, according to Alden Realty officials.
On the same senior living subject, Resort Lifestyle Communities (RLC) is planning to start construction of a $30 million, 130-unit senior community on 9.6 acres along Powers Road behind Culver’s Restaurant. This project will have no healthcare facilities, but will offer concierge services, housekeepers, gourmet chefs, valet parking attendants, and lifestyle directors and activities. Village officials have said that RLC was attracted to the village because of Sun City.
The Sun Day revealed this fall that the village is planning to develop about 3,000 acres surrounding the Route 47-Interstate 90 interchange into a commercial gateway.
The list of expansion possibilities goes on and on. Village businessman Mike Skala came to the village this summer and said he would like to develop a “destination” commercial-residential project on a vacant 17-acre piece of land at Route 47 and Mill Street. This location was formerly the site of Huntley Park District Little League ball fields. This project is in the initial talking stages with the village plan commission. His project tentatively includes four multi-story buildings totaling 170 units, underground parking, and four commercial buildings. In a recently published report, Skala said the project could include a fire station, although this could not be verified. Fire district officials have recently said they are seeking a site for another possible fire station.
Huntley officials have also said recently they are looking into redeveloping the historical Catty building behind the town square with residential facilities, a new business was proposed early last year in the union building on Route 47, and talks are continuing with General RV and other organizations for redevelopment of the recently shuttered Huntley Outlet Center site.
