Huntley sees downtown plan

Hoping to put some sheen on Huntley's historic downtown, village trustees on Thursday reviewed a proposal for a downtown revitalization plan.

Teska Associates of Evanston, in partnership with two other firms, is hoping to design a plan for the village that will include a vision for the downtown, an assessment of parking and roads, and possible funding sources for a long-term revitalization project.

The village board plans to select either the Teska partnership or Naperville-based Houseal Lavigne Associates, which presented its proposal to the board last week, to complete the revitalization plan.

In their presentation to the board Thursday, associates from Teska and its partners touted their experience developing similar plans for numerous Illinois communities, including South Elgin, Woodstock and Champaign.

Ben Carlisle of Teska stressed the role community input would play in his firm's final report to the village board.

"We try to engage residents and have them be active participants at every stage of the process," Carlisle said.

Trustees asked about funding for downtown improvements. Terry Jenkins of Business Districts Inc. said funding options included a special taxing district, the village's capital funds, grants, philanthropy and federal stimulus money.

Whichever plan the village ultimately selects, Teska associates cautioned it could be a while before residents see results. Nick Patera, Teska's senior vice president, said it has taken 17 years for Evanston to enjoy the full benefits of the plan Teska prepared for the city's downtown.

"It takes that long . . . to see the fruits of your labor," Patera said.

Trustees did not publicly weigh the merits of the two proposals Thursday. They may reach a decision later this month, village staffers said.

The village has budgeted $50,000 for the revitalization project this year.