Rural charm still is one of the selling points of Huntley, the sleepy farm community at the far northwestern edge of the Chicago area.
Del Webb Corp. provided the wakeup call two years ago when it broke ground for its first retirement development outside the Sun Belt.
Now other builders have joined in to make Huntley a residential hot spot. Consequently, the rural look is destined to disappear.
Located 47 miles from downtown Chicago, the town had a population of 2,453 in 1990. Projections call for a rise to 31,000 residents by 2010 and 40,000 by 2020.
One of the builders to see the opportunities in Huntley is Kirk Homes, which is constructing Wing Pointe, a subdivision of 460 single-family homes and 150 townhouse-style condominiums.
The eight single-family floor plans range in size from 1,207 to 2,659 square feet and in base price from $157,990 to $197,090. Features include attached two-car garage, basement, wall-to-wall carpeting, vinyl siding and sodded front side and rear yards.
Four single-famiy models can be viewed. One of the models, the Mt. McKinley, can be expanded to four bedrooms and 2,659 square feet.
Sales opened recently at the Townes of Wing Pointe, Kirk Homes’ multifamily section of the project. Base prices range from $117,990 to $133,990.
A monthly assessment for maintenance services, such as lawn care and snow removal, runs from $72 to $91, depending on the size of the home.
The land plan includes two small ponds, two wetland areas and 9.3 acres of parks.
Wing Pointe is at Huntley and Haligus Roads, 1 mile east of Illinois Highway 47.
Shopping is available nearby along Illinois 47 and at the Prime Outlets center at Interstate Highway 90 and Illinois 47.