"What would it cost to raze it?" asked Trustee Nick Hanson. There's no estimate yet, replied Village Manager Dave Johnson who noted there hasn't been a decision on what to do with the property yet.
Trustee Harry Leopold said he thought the decrepit building ought to come down to expand the surrounding municipal parking lot. "As a compromise to the Historic Commission I think there should be a small park and monument," he said, however.
"I'm opposed to razing the property," said Trustee Pam Fender.
Mayor Chuck Sass reined in the incipient debate since the cart was getting before the horse. "We haven't talked about this yet," he said. "We're going to have a discussion," though, he said.
Separately, the Board gave formal approval to Special Use Permits for planned Rookies and Jimmy John's restaurants at Regency Square across from the Huntley Walmart. Parking and drive-thru stacking areas were increased from original plans after Board worries two months ago. The Village will still have to review blueprints when they're drawn up and issue operating permits later.
In the pic: Huntley will buy 11801 E. Main Street today but the Village Board hasn't decided what to do with it yet.
1 comment:
Every old building in a town/village is NOT historical. If it were we'd probably be surrounded by Native American abodes or caves.
Practically speaking, is the building architecturally unique? Will most of the older population who remember old time Huntley be visiting this building/memorial for years to come? Do the new residents of Huntley truly care about such things or do they go elsewhere to see such things? Will their children and grandchildren really care?
Being respectful to the people who came before and contributed to a community can be accomplished with plaques, literature and so on. They are more important than a building like this. From what I understand a lot of people who want Huntley improved are looking for the types of shopping, entertainment and restaurant experiences created in the last couple of decades which are on Randall, in Schaumburg, etc.
Historic in the eye of one person is easily old, obsolete, and using TODAY'S space.
Compromise. Buy. Raze it. Put a 21st Century need on the spot and a history plaque on it.
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