Pitching Huntley to Developers, Businesses

Thomas Jurs stepped out of the Huntley village boardroom between speakers Wednesday to give his take on the village’s future.

“It’s all good,” said Jurs, who’s done business in Huntley for 40 years. “It’s all good.”

Huntley officials hope developers and businesses have the same feeling following the village’s first Route 47 Developer/Broker Forum where staff challenged them to “imagine the possibilities.”

“There are a lot of positive things happening in Huntley,” Village Manager Dave Johnson said.

What makes Huntley a great place for businesses is its population growth and its transportation plans, including a full interchange at Route 47 and Interstate 90, he said.

Population

Huntley had a population increase of 329 percent from 2000 to 2010, with the latest figures showing the population at 24,291, Johnson said.

“We are one of the fastest growing communities in the Chicago Metro area,” he said.

Not only is the population expected to increase, its growth is continuing, Johnson said. By the end of March, the village expects to issue 161 permits for housing and senior housing projects, he said. The village was also among the top five in housing starts in the Chicago area.

“I think we are in a position to continue healthy growth,” Johnson said.

Improving transportation

A full interchange at Route 47 and I-90 is something Huntley village boards have talked about for the better part of 20 years, but the $70 million project is now moving forward, Johnson said.

A contract could be awarded by March 2012, he said.

The interchange, which includes seven lanes over I-90 and four ramps, will have a huge economic development impact, Johnson said. The estimated annual direct income with a full access interchange is $455.9 million, he said.

That estimate comes from a study Kane County conducted in 2007 showing the potential earning power in the region due to the interchange, he said. Additionally, the value of properties in that area will increase as a result of the interchange, he said.

What Huntley needs to get across to developers and business is this is the place to be, Johnson said. The board is willing to work with business on incentives, but the projects have to benefit Huntley, he said.

Other projects the village is working on:

-Maintaining its downtown authenticity by preserving its greatest assets. It is looking for public-private partnerships to accomplish this goal.

-Planning for future transit railways. The cost of a transit system, like Metra, is $700 million. “Obviously, a significant investment must be made in our community,” Johnson said. The cost is 10 times more than the full interchange project.

-Working with businesses like General RV and FYH USA to come to the village’s industrial parks/malls. General RV is the first project in a decade in the Auto Mall. And FYH USA, one of the largest companies producing ball bearing units in Japan, is expected to relocate here by October. Johnson also mentioned Centegra Health System’s plan to build a Huntley hospital. That project is expected to create 1,100 permanent jobs, he said.

Brad and Adam Reiche own a construction company building FYH USA’s new facility. The two attended Wednesday’s forum and thought it was well done. The village is doing a good job trying to attract businesses, Brad Reiche said, adding the village worked closely with FYH USA to bring them to Huntley.

Huntley’s biggest strength is its location to I-90, Adam Reiche said. The interchange is a big plus, he said.