The South Barrington Park District board on Wednesday canceled its planned sale of 34 acres at Bartlett Road and Route 59 to a religious group. (John Starks | Staff Photographer, August 2023)
By Russell Lissau – Daily Herald
After weeks of public pressure, the South Barrington Park District board has decided not to sell 34 acres of undeveloped land to a religious group.
The board on Wednesday night voted 4-0 to cancel its pending contract with Maywood-based Fourth Avenue Gospel Building Inc., a nonprofit operation that’s owned and operated by a local congregation of the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church.
Fourth Avenue representatives intended to build a house of worship and a school.
Park district voters in November approved holding an auction to unload the property, which sometimes is called “Area N.” Fourth Avenue Gospel Building was the lone bidder, offering about $1.7 million for the property near Bartlett Road and Route 59.
Last month, people opposed to the plan — including many residents of the nearby Woods of South Barrington development — demonstrated against the deal at park district headquarters. They’ve cited the proposed use of the land and some of the church’s practices among their concerns.
Read more here.
Related: “After public outcry, South Barrington Park District might scrap plan to sell land to religious group,” “Attorneys for South Barrington Park District, church tell judge they want to complete land sale,” “Opponents of the South Barrington Park District land sale to Plymouth Brother Christian Church protest outside meeting, confront commissioners,” “Proposed sale of South Barrington Park District land to church is headed to court,” “Why the South Barrington Park District has halted land sale to church, (Part 2),” “Why South Barrington Park District has halted land sale to church,” “South Barrington Park District proposed property sale updates include request for support,” “Hearing on controversial church plan canceled in South Barrington, but opponents still have their say,” “Why some South Barrington residents oppose plan for new church, school,” “Nearby South Barrington Park District property sale concerns neighbors”
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