Businesses worried about Route 47 widening

For more than a decade, Huntley leaders have touted the improved traffic flow and reduced congestion the widening of Route 47 would bring to the village.

But while the widening would probably reduce traffic headaches, many business owners along the thoroughfare worry about the effect the project will have on their bottom lines.

The impact the widening will have on businesses along Route 47 - both physically and financially - isn't completely known, but there's little doubt the work will take away parking spaces, reduce access for some and eliminate other businesses altogether.

"It's going to hurt us real bad," said Randy Weaver, whose motorcycle shop is slated to be demolished by the Illinois Department of Transportation during the widening.

Weaver said he's hopeful he can keep his customers after he packs up Randy's Cycle and opens in a new location - essentially starting over after 13 years on Route 47.

"They're making us move," Weaver said. "They're going to tear this building down."

Huntley officials said they're hoping to balance regional transportation needs with the rights of business owners.

"We want to make sure that we work with the business owners, as well as IDOT, to see as little impact as possible on our businesses," Village Manager Dave Johnson said.

When Route 47 is widened, some businesses will find themselves in violation of local ordinances that govern how much parking businesses need and how far they have to be from the roadway.

The village board already has started granting exemptions to those properties, and Huntley officials say as long as violations are related to the widening, business owners don't need to worry.

"I'm not going to kick anybody out of business," Mayor Chuck Sass said. "I can't see punishing anybody."

Business owners said they appreciated the village's flexibility but still worry about the impact the widening could have on their sales - both during and after construction.

"Whenever you tear up a road or make a major project, you distract residents away from that area," said Nick Bumba, owner of Nick's Furniture.

Bumba went through this before. When roadwork disrupted his Sugar Grove location, he had to offer aggressive promotions to keep his sales strong.

"It was very, very effective," Bumba said. "It gave people a reason to come out."

Steve Grechis, co-owner of the Dairy Mart, a Huntley institution, said he fears his business would suffer the same fate as a Crystal Lake ice cream parlor that lost customers after work on Northwest Highway.

"When it was all done, their business never came back," Grechis said. "That's a scary thought."