Huntley gets first peek at Italian-themed project
A Chicago developer wants to bring a touch of the Italian Riviera to the Fox Valley.
Portofino Group LLC plans to build an eight-screen movie theater, big box stores, retail outlets, office space, restaurants, apartments and row houses in Huntley, near Sun City.
The Village of Portofino, named after a fishing town in Italy, will be located on the 105-acre site northwest of Route 47 and Kreutzer Road, said Gary Marks, president of the Portofino group.
"It will be a very unique design that has not been done in the Midwest that I know of," Marks said. "It's a good opportunity to introduce a new product into the market place."
Though still in the concept stage, Marks said the development would consist of 1.16 million square feet of retail and restaurant space in an Italian-themed lifestyle center echoing the design of Portofino Bay, Italy.
About 368 apartments will be built above the ground-floor retail space, surrounding a man-made Portofino Bay, Marks said.
Row homes also are planned for the west side of the property, just south of the Lion's Chase subdivision.
"Hopefully this will be a place people will spend three to four hours as opposed to three to four minutes like in a regular mall," Marks said. "People can shop, live, work recreate, eat and drink all in one venue. That's the concept for it."
While Trustee John Piwko said he liked the early plans, he said the proposed apartments on the west side south of the Lion's Chase subdivision was a concern.
"I would like to see some kind of feasibility study to make sure there is data there to support these apartments and that they are high quality," Piwko said. "I would hate to see them build it and they stand empty."
The $400 million project also would extend Kreutzer Road west. A tunnel would allow golf carts to travel between the development and Sun City.
"People can jump in their golf carts and come to our property," Marks said. "They can come to Italy for lunch."
The ease of access to the proposed community is a top priority for some board members.
"For the most part, I want to make sure there is walkability to the area," Trustee John Piwko said. "The tunnel would help with connecting the two communities."