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Archive for June, 2019

They’re finally marketing the ‘Empire’ mansion as the ‘Empire’ mansion

Posted in Real Estate, Topics Of Interest on June 18, 2019| Leave a Comment »

Since the first episodes of the hit Fox series in 2014, the Barrington Hills giant has been a set for the show while also lingering on the for-sale market. With the TV show’s last season coming, the seller “is allowing us to leverage that,” the listing agent said.

The for-sale listing for a 17,000-square-foot mansion in Barrington Hills, which has played the role of of Lucious Lyon’s baronial mansion on the Fox series “Empire” since 2014, at last makes reference to the TV show.

The house, on 8.5 acres on Lakeview Lane in the northwest suburb, has been on the market much of the time since June 2013, when it listed for $15.9 million, and separately has become familiar to fans of the television series. But until Monday, the real estate listing never mentioned “Empire.”

“The seller was hesitant, but now he’s allowing us to leverage that,” said Michael LaFido, the @properties agent who is representing the house. The new listing appeared Monday afternoon, after the home had been officially off the market but still offered on private agent networks since April 2018. Along with the new mention of “Empire,” the listing brought a $3 million price cut. The asking price is now $9.5 million, down from $12.5 million.

Read more from Crain’s Chicago Business here.

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National veterans cemetery in South Barrington: How about a different spot in town, leaders say

Posted in Land Use, South Barrington, Topics Of Interest, Traffic on June 18, 2019| Leave a Comment »

Concerns about traffic, noise and the suitability of a South Barrington site proposed as home to a new national veterans cemetery are being taken into consideration as studies on the idea continue, according to the federal agency driving the effort.

But in the meantime, South Barrington leaders who see the proposed location as incompatible for a cemetery are instead suggesting other potential sites in town.

Under what’s called an urban initiative, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs wants to acquire 15 acres on the southwest corner of Mundhank and Freeman roads for a columbarium cemetery to serve the Chicago area. It would be an extension of the Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery in Elwood, about 57 miles southwest of downtown Chicago.

South Barrington Mayor Paula McCombie stresses she and other village officials welcome the proposed veterans cemetery, but they say the VA’s location is not the best possible spot.

“Let’s find another location in town,” McCombie said. “Let’s look a little bit instead of just sticking people back over in a corner there.”

Read the full story from the Daily Herald here.

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Additional parking coming to Metra station in Barrington, including premium spots and increased fees

Posted in BACOG, Cook, County, Lake, Politics, Topics Of Interest on June 18, 2019| Leave a Comment »

Responding to public demands, Barrington officials have worked to add 67 more parking spaces at the Metra commuter station in the village’s downtown area.

Barrington owns the commuter lots at 201 S. Spring St., where there are currently 905 parking spaces.

An advisory referendum question on the November 2018 ballot asked if the village should “provide a preference to village residents at specific locations in the village’s commuter parking lots which are used by residents of other communities?”

About 75% of voters responded “yes” to the referendum question, according to results from the Lake and Cook county clerks’ offices. Barrington is divided between the two counties.

Barrington officials said spaces are needed as more people are finding jobs and require transportation in the Chicago area.

To read the Barrington Courier-Review coverage of the Metra commuter parking story, click here.

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Starting July 1, no more free passes for texting (or holding your phone at all) and driving

Posted in Barrington Hills Park District, Illinois Tollway, Topics Of Interest on June 17, 2019| 1 Comment »

Illinois’ law banning driving and texting is now five years old, and drivers caught violating it will face a stiffer penalty as of July 1.

Scofflaws who text, talk or use any hand-held devices behind the wheel will receive a ticket for a moving violation. Three moving violations in a 12-month period will lead to a license suspension.

Lawmakers tightened the law in 2018, removing a provision giving first-time offenders a free pass.

The tougher stance reverts back to what Secretary of State Jesse White “wanted in the original bill, and it was negotiated down,” spokesman Dave Druker said. “There was a lot of feeling it was a little harsh.”

Being nice, however, wasn’t working, authorities found. White and Illinois State Police “felt it wasn’t making a dent,” said Elgin Democratic Sen. Christina Castro, who sponsored the change.

Read more here.

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Missed the Barrington Art Festival? Algonquin’s annual Art on the Fox returns June 15-16

Posted in Topics Of Interest on June 14, 2019| Leave a Comment »

A performance by the 44th Army Band Five Star Brass will kick off Algonquin’s 12th annual Art on the Fox at 11 a.m. Saturday, June 15, at Towne Park, 100 Jefferson St.

The two-day juried art show, which is at a new location this year, will be open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. It will feature more than 40 artists, art demos, children’s tent and music.

From 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days, McHenry County College will host art demonstrations and there will be free kids activities in the Picasso Zone. From 1:30 to 5 p.m. Saturday, there will be an “Art Battle” by H2O Church.

On Sunday, chef Robert Childers will offer a culinary art demo. At 10 a.m., there will be a book readin by author Michele May. At 11 a.m., JTC Turning will offer wood turning demos. At 1 p.m., Phil Munton will perform oldies music, followed by Fingers & Strings by Merv Collins at 2 p.m.

Admission is free. For information, click here.

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Say no to taxes, taxes and more taxes

Posted in News Media, OP/Ed, Politics, Property Taxes, Springfield, Taxes on June 12, 2019| Leave a Comment »

“I contend that for a nation to try to tax itself into prosperity is like a man standing in a bucket and trying to lift himself up by the handle.”

— Winston Churchill

State Rep. David McSweeney, Barrington Hills

Gov. J.B. Pritzker, after signing the largest budget in Illinois history, declared that the Land of Lincoln is back, but he failed to complete the rest of that sentence. Illinois is back to the failed policies of more tax increases and out of control spending. Republican “leaders” who supported Pritzker’s big government fiscal policies should be ashamed of themselves. I voted an emphatic “no” on the Pritzker budget and tax increases.

The $40 billion Fiscal Year 2020 unbalanced budget that the governor signed contains more spending than the budget he originally proposed and includes no spending reforms. The budget also includes tax increases on health insurance and online purchases. The Illinois Constitution requires “appropriations for a fiscal year shall not exceed funds estimated by the General Assembly to be available during that year.” The General Assembly did not pass a revenue estimate so this budget cannot be truly balanced. Also, overly optimistic revenue forecasts unrealistically assume that one-time revenue gains will be sustainable.

As egregious as the additional spending is, the real story of the 2019 spring session is taxes, taxes and more taxes. The progressive income tax constitutional amendment is the linchpin for massive future tax hikes and new state spending. Fortunately, voters will have the final say on the progressive income tax constitutional amendment that will be on the ballot in the general election next year. I’m confident that 60% of Illinois voters will not support massive tax increases that will eventually hit the middle class. Do you really trust Illinois political insiders to set your tax rates under a progressive tax system?

Read the full David McSweeny opinion piece in the Daily Herald here.

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District 220 to purchase property next to BMS-Prairie and ELC

Posted in 220, Board of Education, Cook, County, District 220 referendum, Land Use, OP/Ed, Politics, Property Taxes, School Districts on June 10, 2019| 1 Comment »

At its June 5 meeting, the District 220 Board of Education approved the purchase of the residential property located at 36 East Dundee Road, which sits between the Early Learning Center and BMS-Prairie.

The Barrington Countryside Fire Protection District is selling the property to the district. BCFPD had proposed a fire station for the site, however the Cook County Board did not approve the proposal.

It’s reported that District 220 will be paying an estimated $562,800 for the 1,462 square foot ranch-style home built in 1955. Records indicate the roughly 1-acre parcel last sold for $500,000 in December of 2016 to the BCFPD.

“The district expects the land to be used to improve traffic flow and parking at the two campuses,” a recent 220 press release states. The way District 220 has been managed in recent years, we expect this will likely be over a million-dollar expenditure before it’s all said and done.

Related: County board denies plans to build fire station near two Barrington schools

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Editorial: Efforts to boost 3 old theaters important to suburban downtown health

Posted in News Media, OP/Ed on June 7, 2019| Leave a Comment »

The Arcada Theatre in St. Charles, the Des Plaines Theater in Des Plaines and the Catlow Theater in Barrington — three stately, downtown theater buildings that have been the focus of recent community efforts aiming to give them new leases on life.

All three date to the mid-1920s and each is at a different stage in its operation and development, but they share the common bond that people cared enough about their futures to commit the time, energy and dollars to help ensure they will be viable.

Those efforts and others elsewhere are important, because such buildings and their venues are treasures that are part of the very fabric and character that’s critical to making suburban downtowns vibrant places to visit for entertainment and commerce.

They are attractions that create foot traffic and keep money flowing to restaurants and other businesses.

The Catlow bills itself as the “heart of Barrington” and fans raised more than $100,000 in 2012 to fund a needed digital projector. This spring, in response to another cry for help from the theater’s owner, Barrington Cultural Commission members are suggesting events and looking for other ways to improve business at the old single-screen movie house. Among the ideas being floated is a “Sound of Music” singalong over Thanksgiving weekend.

Read the full Daily Herald editorial here.

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No state funds for Longmeadow Parkway leaves Lauzen fuming

Posted in County, Kane, Longmeadow Parkway, Politics, Property Taxes on June 6, 2019| 3 Comments »

Kane County Board Chairman Chris Lauzen blasted local state lawmakers for not delivering money for the Longmeadow Parkway that would help prevent the need for a toll bridge to complete the project, but at least one state senator said she never heard from him.

Now, expectations for any state funding might depend on whether lawmakers would contribute some of the member initiative money each received in the budget to spend on in-district projects.

The bridge will create a new crossing over the Fox River near the McHenry County border, but a lack of local funding, so far, will lead to a toll to pay for the bridge and future maintenance. County officials hoped to get about $40 million to eliminate the need for what is expected to be an unpopular toll.

“It does blow me away that this would be the circumstance,” Lauzen said Wednesday.

The lack of state funding is even harder to swallow because increases to the gas tax and fees for driver’s licenses and vehicle titles will push an estimated $73 million of additional money from Kane County residents’ wallets to state coffers each year, according to Lauzen’s calculations.

Read more here.

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Barrington High School class of 2019 praised for accomplishments, urged to ‘earn your way through life’ and take risks

Posted in 220, School Districts, Topics Of Interest on June 4, 2019| Leave a Comment »

More than 700 seniors from Barrington School High made up the class of 2019 and went through the final tradition together Friday — commencement.

Family and friends gathered at Willow Creek Community Church in South Barrington Friday for the graduation ceremony.

The class of 2019 had 709 graduates, and 96 percent are heading this fall off to colleges and universities around the country, Samantha Ptashkin, director of communications for Barrington School District 220, said in an email.

She named the Boston College, Northwestern University, Vanderbilt University and the University of Chicago, among others well-known learning institutions as next-chapter schools for the Barrington High School grads.

(Editorial note: It’s unclear why Ms. Ptashkin or the reporter chose to single out these four fine institutions, but it’s our guess one will likely regret that decision.)

Read more here.

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