New businesses are coming into Huntley constantly, and the last few months were no exception.
Major news coming out of the village’s economic development department last week revealed that the former Chevrolet auto dealership on south Route 47 next to General RV is being replaced. Coming soon is the More Brewing Company, with a restaurant, brewery, and taproom.
This aerial photo shows the proposed location of the More Brewing Co. restaurant in the former Chevrolet dealer site near the I-90 interchange in Huntley. (Photo provided)
“More is leasing the entire former auto dealership property from Rush Trucking Co.,” said Charles Nordman, director of economic development services. “This project has been approved by the Plan Commission and final approval by the village board is expected soon.”
Nordman said More plans to retain but modify the former auto dealer building on the north part of the property, and use the southern half for special events and activities.
Also announced last week: developers have made application to locate a Thornton’s Gas Station at the northwest corner of Route 47 and Kreutzer Road. This is the same location at which a CV Pharmacy was proposed last year, but was eventually withdrawn.
At the north end of the village, Lennar Homes, a newly created firm, has submitted a plan to continue expansion of the Talamore Subdivision on the west side of Route 47 north of Reed Road.
“We are ready to issue permits for them to start building single family homes that will fill in vacant spaces near the Route 47 roadway,” Nordman said. Talamore is the second largest residential development in Huntley, behind only Sun City.
Nordman also provided an update on Panera Bread’s plans for a restaurant on the southeast corner of 47 and Kreutzer.
“They have told us they plan to begin construction in June of this year,” he said.
The village also is working with Jewel-Osco to complete the renovation of the Village Green store and begin construction on the proposed new store at the northeast corner of Reed Road and 47.
The village also is reviewing the Huntley Fire District’s plans for a fifth station at Dhamer and Hennig Roads at the south edge of Sun City. The District plans to use the new facility to serve Sun City and a small portion of Hampshire. This project also includes moving the district’s headquarters from Coral Street near the Huntley downtown square to the district’s Annex on Main Street near Ruth Road, and eventually selling the Coral Street building.
On other economic and business development subjects, Nordman provided these updates:
Several options are emerging regarding the future of the remaining 63 acres of the former outlet center. One is to establish a business district in the northeast and southeast quadrants of the I-90-Route 47 interchange. Another is to fold the former mall site into this business district redevelopment.
Still another is to develop an implementation strategy for an I-90-Route 47 Gateway Plan that would include all of the area adjacent to the interchange, including the mall property.
The village is getting positive reviews of the new Casa Rubios Mexican Kitchen restaurant at the former Niko building on Freeman Road east of Route 47.
Another multi-use bike-pedestrian path will be created this year on the north side of Reed Road, connecting Vine Street and Route 47. This will be similar to the path created in 2017 along Route 47 connecting Kreutzer Road and Oak Creek Parkway.
Village street improvement projects in Sun City this year include crack-sealing and liquid road surface replacement in Neighborhood 4, and pavement patching in Neighborhood 15.
Finally, things remain stalled on the Horizon proposal for a commercial development on the west side of south Route 47 between Neighborhoods 32A and B in Sun City and Dhamer Drive. This is primarily because the Army Corps of Engineers is taking a lot of time to review Horizon’s request to re-route the Eakin River that currently runs through the middle of this site. Horizon wants to shift the river northward along the west side of Route 47, and then turn it westward along the south edge of the Sun City neighborhoods. Residents have expressed opposition to any such action, as well as to the commercial plan itself.
