Visions for Vacancies: Lot at McHenry Avenue and Route 14 in Crystal Lake

Another gasoline station, fast-food restaurant, or a public park with fountain?

What would you, the residents of Crystal Lake, like to see built at the corner of McHenry Avenue and Route 14?

Once home to Crystal Lake Home Furnishings - and Armanetti's Liquors prior to that - the former building at 350 McHenry Ave. has since been razed to make the space "more sellable."

The one-acre lot at McHenry Avenue and Route 14 is owned by Roy and Reed Fellars and offers great "location, location, location," but its size limits the types of businesses that could open there.

"There has been a lot of recent interest in this property, but unfortunately I cannot share any of prospective buyers at this time," said James Richter II, assistant director of economic development for Crystal Lake. "...'Retail' is all I can say."

The intersection is home to , and .

While the community can always use the tax revenue generated by a new business, have you ever noticed Crystal Lake doesn't have a distinguishing statue or fountain like so many other towns?

Think about it: Harvard has Harmilda the Cow greeting visitors near Route 14; the village of Algonquin constructed a new clock tower adorned by fountains and flower beds (Algonquin also has the old fountain next to the former Village Hall, but the Indian is gone); and Cary has a fountain and memorial at Veteran's Park along Route 14.

Further away, Wheeling has a fountain, and so, too, does Rosemont. Both are used as backdrops for wedding and engagement photographs.

So, now let's hear from you!

Patch wants to know what residents envision for the corner of McHenry Avenue and Route 14. Please post YOUR ideas in the comments section below.