Huntley approves plan for downtown

Huntley trustees formally approved a plan Thursday that will serve as a blueprint for revamping the village's downtown area.

The Downtown Revitalization Plan, developed by Naperville-based Houseal Lavigne Associates, provides potential developers with guidelines to turn downtown Huntley, and the surrounding area, into a destination featuring restaurants, retail stores, offices, and residential units - while maintaining the area's historic character.

"From this point forward we will use it as a tool in evaluating future developments and take a look at infrastructure and the aesthetics of the downtown," Village Manager David Johnson said. "The village can participate in or spearhead that. In the end, it will serve as a guideline for that to happen."

Priorities of the document include reinforcing the downtown as the "heart" of Huntley, improving access and mobility around the area to improve the economic strength of downtown, and encouraging public and private investment in the area.

Under the long-range plan, which took 18 months to develop and which continues to evolve, the village square - John C. Dhamer Town Square - could be substantially expanded. Enlarging the area, would involve closing Coral Street between Woodstock and Church streets, relocating the American Legion Post, and tearing down the Old Village Hall.

Another goal of the plan is to include pedestrian-oriented elements like wider sidewalks, pedestrian plazas and landscaping that would encourage people to walk around the downtown area and engage in their surroundings.

Other aspects include wayfinding signage, public art and street-level retail. New or newly designed buildings would have to be two to three stories high and incorporate high-quality, appropriate architecture.