Work on Huntley fire stations to begin soon
Work could begin soon to build the Huntley Fire Protection District's new headquarters and two fire stations, officials said.
The Huntley village board recently approved site plans for both projects - estimated to cost $13 million.
Construction is set to begin any day on the new 10,239-square-foot fire station on 2.23 acres at the southeast corner of Jim Dhamer Drive and Hennig Road next to the southwest corner of Sun City-Huntley senior living community. This will be the fire district's fifth fire station.
"Permits have been issued. They literally could break ground anytime" if the weather cooperates, Deputy Chief Al Schlick said.
The project bid came in about $3 million, nearly $400,000 below the original estimate. Construction will take roughly seven months, with the station operational by February, Schlick said.
District officials are awaiting permits and construction bids on the second project, involving a 12,145-square-foot building addition and site renovations to the property at 11118 Main St., which serves as district administrative offices and maintenance facility.
With the addition and renovations, the 35,690-square-foot building will become the district's new headquarters and fire Station 1 and also house a renovated maintenance facility. The addition will bring all administrative offices under one roof, and include firefighter living quarters, training facilities, a fitness facility and garage parking. Roughly 15 employees will work there during daytime hours.
The district's current Station 1/headquarters at 11808 Coral St., will be vacated and sold upon completion of work on the Main Street property.
The Main Street site plan includes reconstruction of the parking lot on the north and west sides, providing 69 parking spaces - an increase of 34 spaces - and required stormwater detention at the north end of the site and enhancements to the village-owned detention basin north of the Donald Drive/Main Street intersection.
"That building is a little bit more complicated than Station 5," Schlick said. "It's taking a little bit longer for us to get through the process. We're waiting for the final permits to come through. We've moved everybody out except our mechanic. We moved all the vehicles out too (except) our oldest training engine is there."
Bids on the new headquarters are expected back next week. Work will be done in phases and will take roughly 12 months to be completed.