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New residential development floated for Barrington’s Golden Triangle

Posted in 220, Daily Herald, EJ&E/Canadian National, Property Taxes, Real Estate, School Districts on February 24, 2026| Leave a Comment »

Rendering of The Residences at Liberty Commons | Courtesy of the Barrington Development Co.

By Steve Zalusky | Daily Herald

Barrington’s Golden Triangle could be the site for another large residential development.

Michael Fleck and Nick Marrocco of the Barrington Development Co. unveiled the concept for The Residences at Liberty Commons before village trustees Monday night.

The proposal for the estimated $100 million project comes as another portion of Barrington’s Redevelopment Area #1, also known as the Golden Triangle, will undergo a facelift with a retail and residential project in the works by Joe Taylor III of Compasspoint Development.

Fleck and Marrocco, who founded Gateway Development Partners in 2012, have assembled eight parcels near the corner of Liberty and Hough streets.

The proposed site plan for The Residences at Liberty Commons | Courtesy of the Barrington Development Co.

“I really love this community. It’s wonderful. The schools are great, but I think there could be some more vibrancy to downtown,” Fleck said.

“We need to bring some density and multifamily to support the downtown area,” he said, emphasizing the transit-oriented nature of the project.

It is a half mile from the train station and within walking distance of downtown.

Article continues here.

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District 220 board reverses decision to buy properties for parking

Posted in 220, Barrington High School, Board of Education, Daily Herald, Deception, District 220 referendum, Land Use, Letters to the Editor, Politics, Property Taxes, Real Estate, School Districts, What the Ficke (Bradford)? on December 24, 2025| Leave a Comment »

Courtesy Google Maps (Click on image to enlarge)

By Steve Zalusky | Daily Herald

The Barrington Area Unit District 220 school board voted 4-3 Tuesday to reverse its August decision to purchase four properties for parking expansion at Barrington High School.

School board members had unanimously approved buying lots at 502, 506 and 510 W. Main St. and 112 N. Hager Ave. to meet parking needs resulting from a 2024 referendum for school improvements, including a new auditorium.

However, residents from the Walnut Grove neighborhood located next to the high school organized opposition after learning of the purchase.

The residents expressed concern about preserving the scale and character of a neighborhood containing homes dating back to the Great Depression. They said they were also worried about the impact of demolishing three homes, including the elimination of affordable housing.

In addition, they were concerned about property values and being vulnerable to future expansion by the district, suggesting the district reconfigure portions of its buildable land.

Board President Sandra Ficke-Bradford and members Leah Collister-Lazzari and Barry Altshuler opposed reconsidering.

Altshuler worried about precedent, saying, “If we sign a contract and then we don’t go through with it as an organization, that’s not a good thing.”

He added that the properties would have improved safety and security for students and warned that the high school would lose parking during auditorium construction.

Read the full story here.

Related: “School district’s parking plan defies logic,” “Zoning change defies village policy,” “Paving paradise?: Historic Barrington neighborhood opposes District 220’s plan to buy land for parking”

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School district’s parking plan defies logic

Posted in 220, Barrington High School, Board of Education, Daily Herald, Deception, District 220 referendum, Land Use, Letters to the Editor, Politics, Property Taxes, Real Estate, School Districts, Transparency, What the Ficke (Bradford)? on December 10, 2025| 5 Comments »

Courtesy Google Maps (Click on image to enlarge)

Daily Herald Letter to the Editor

Barrington residents and students have asked District 220 for years to address the parking shortage at Barrington High School. The community has been clear: we need more parking, but we need a solution that makes sense.

Unfortunately, the school board’s current proposal defies logic.

The board has refused to consider a viable option that would create 216 parking spots at a cost of roughly $18,518 per stall. Instead, they are choosing to spend nearly $50,000 per stall to build just 40 spots by demolishing homes on North Hager Avenue and Main Street.

Why would the District choose to pay 2.5 times more for significantly less parking?

This proposal is not just fiscally irresponsible; it is destructive. It needlessly tears down attainable homes, uproots residents and erodes the historic character of Walnut Grove. School officials confirmed at the Dec. 2 board Meeting that cash reserves are available for the larger parking solution. There is no financial excuse for choosing the destructive path over the efficient one.

Barrington values thoughtful planning and stewardship. Tearing down historic homes for a small, overpriced parking lot undermines those values.

District 220 still has time to change course. We urge the board to listen to the more than 400 residents who have signed our petition. Choose the plan that expands parking meaningfully and uses taxpayer dollars responsibly — don’t destroy a neighborhood for 40 parking spots.

Margaret Van Duch
Barrington

Related: “Zoning change defies village policy,” “Paving paradise?: Historic Barrington neighborhood opposes District 220’s plan to buy land for parking”

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Zoning change defies village policy

Posted in 220, Barrington High School, Board of Education, Daily Herald, Deception, District 220 referendum, Land Use, Letters to the Editor, Politics, Property Taxes, Real Estate, School Districts, Transparency, What the Ficke (Bradford)? on December 9, 2025| 2 Comments »

Courtesy WalnutGroveBarrington.org

Daily Herald Letters to the Editor

I am writing to express concern about the Barrington 220 proposal to expand the “Lincoln Lot,” a parking lot originally planned for residential parcels along Hager Avenue.

In September, the district initiated the Special Use Planned Development process with the Lincoln Lot included, seeking to rezone R-6 residential lots to P-L institutional zoning to allow a use otherwise prohibited in a residential neighborhood. After significant community concern, the district withdrew the Lincoln Lot from its submission — an implicit acknowledgment that the proposal did not comply with the village’s zoning requirements.

Both Chapter 11 (Planned Developments) and Chapter 3 (Special Uses) of the Village of Barrington Zoning Ordinance make clear that flexibility in zoning is granted only when a proposal protects surrounding neighborhoods and provides meaningful public benefits. Chapter 11 requires that a Planned Development preserve the value of surrounding residential areas, remain compatible with neighborhood character and provide benefits that accrue to the village — not merely to the applicant. The Lincoln Lot meets none of these standards.

Replacing long-standing homes with an asphalt parking facility would increase traffic, noise, lighting and stormwater runoff while permanently altering the character of a stable residential street.

Chapter 3 further requires that a special use not adversely affect surrounding properties and remain in harmony with the intent of the zoning ordinance. The district’s need to rezone these properties — and its withdrawal of the parking lot — makes clear that it could not meet these criteria.

It is also important to note that the district has already authorized the purchase of these residential parcels, despite withdrawing the Lincoln Lot from the application. This, combined with the district’s ability to resubmit the parking lot as a separate application, makes it essential that the village consistently enforce the standards of Chapters 11 and 3 to protect neighborhood stability and property values.

Wende Dau
Walnut Grove
Website – WalnutGroveBarrington.org

Related: “Paving paradise?: Historic Barrington neighborhood opposes District 220’s plan to buy land for parking”

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Barrington village board passes welcoming resolution

Posted in 220, BACOG, Daily Herald, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI), Immigration, Politics, School Districts on November 26, 2025| 2 Comments »

By Steve Zalusky | Daily Herald

Barrington’s village board passed a resolution affirming the village is a welcoming community.

The board’s decision clarifies the village’s compliance with Illinois’ TRUST Act, Trustee Brian Prigge said. The state law prevents police agencies from assisting federal agents with immigration enforcement efforts.

“It is effectively synonymous with an ordinance, as the enforcement in the ordinance would not have any real teeth to it,” he said.

But residents who spoke at Monday’s board meeting spoke in favor of an ordinance along the lines of those passed by Wheeling, Evanston and Oak Park.

The resolution states the village does not support the use of any village-owned or operated properties or assets for immigration enforcement purposes.

It also declares its support and appreciation to people in the Barrington community who continue to work to foster safety and respect for all.

More here.

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Fire destroys vacant barn in Barrington Hills

Posted in BCFPD, Daily Herald, VBHPD on November 16, 2025| Leave a Comment »

 

Courtesy of Northern Illinois Fire Ground Photography

By Steve Zalusky | Daily Herald

Investigators are searching for the cause of a fire that destroyed a vacant barn Saturday afternoon in Barrington Hills.

The Barrington Countryside Fire Protection District responded to the blaze in the 1700 block of Dundee Road (Route 68) at approximately 2 p.m., Fire Chief Scott Motisi said.

Firefighters arrived in less than six minutes and found smoke and fire coming from all sides of the 40-foot-by-40-foot multistory barn, the fire district reported.

After confirming the barn was unoccupied, firefighters extinguished the blaze then conducted search and salvage operations, with Cuba Township crews assisting with a backhoe.

Read more here.

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Paving paradise?: Historic Barrington neighborhood opposes District 220’s plan to buy land for parking

Posted in 220, Agendas, Barrington High School, Board of Education, Daily Herald, Deception, District 220 referendum, Ethics, Land Use, Politics, Real Estate, School Districts, Transparency, What the Ficke (Bradford)? on November 15, 2025| 1 Comment »

506 W Main St, Barrington, IL 60010 | Zillow

By Steve Zalusky | Daily Herald

A Barrington neighborhood with a rich history is gathering petitions to stop Barrington Area Unit District 220’s plans to buy four properties to provide parking for its new auditorium.

The district approved contracts in August to buy 502, 506 and 510 W. Main St. and 112 N. Hager Ave. at a cost of $985,000. Closings are expected next month, and the district is asking for village board zoning approval.

Residents of the Walnut Grove neighborhood told Barrington village board members Monday they oppose the rezoning from single-family residential to public lands.

The residents have collected more than 150 signatures, and several plan to speak at the District 220 school board meeting Tuesday.

They say the district’s plans endanger a neighborhood with deep roots in Barrington’s history — some of the homes date back to the Great Depression and include Sears kit homes built by Barrington High School shop students.

“There is always an ongoing conversation in our community about having enough parking at the high school,” not only for students and staff during the school day, but for after-hours activities, District 220 Superintendent Craig Winkelman said at the Aug. 19 school board meeting.

During the recent referendum, as the district was considering expanding the auditorium, the district received feedback about adding parking to accommodate the increased seating, he said.

However, Walnut Grove residents who voted for the recent referendum that made the auditorium possible say they were blindsided by the district’s decision. They worry about future land acquisition on their block and are a decline in property values.

Residents suggested the district use about 10 acres of buildable land it owns.

Read more here.

Related: The August 19, 2025 District 220 Board of Education meeting agenda included: “Consideration and Approval of Resolution Approving contract for purchase of 502, 506, 510 W. Main St. and 112 N. Hager Ave. (Nearly $1M total) properties.”

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District 300 school board member removed as president but avoids censure for Charlie Kirk post

Posted in 300, Board of Education, Daily Herald, Politics, School Districts on October 3, 2025| Leave a Comment »

Nancy Zettler | Courtesy District 300

By Alicia Fabbre | Daily Herald

A member of the Algonquin-based Community Unit District 300 school board who made a controversial comment on social media after Charlie Kirk’s death was stripped of her board president seat Thursday but avoided a formal censure.

Board member Nancy Zettler sparked a firestorm when she wrote in a Sept. 10 Facebook post that her initial reaction to Kirk’s murder was karma.

The school board held a special meeting Thursday night to consider possible action against Zettler. Board members voted 5-1 to remove her as board president. However, the board refused to vote on a measure to censure her.

Moments before the vote, Zettler said the district will get through the controversy regardless of what happened to her. She added that she remains steadfast in her support of District 300 students.

“I’m not going anywhere,” she said.

Residents packed a special meeting of the Algonquin-based Community Unit District 300 school board on Thursday night. | Alicia Fabbre/For the Daily Herald

A packed crowd attended Thursday’s meeting, where the board heard nearly two hours of public comment.

Read more here.

Related: “Parents call for Algonquin-based District 300 board president to resign after social media post about Charlie Kirk death”

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Why the Daily Herald is ending commenting on online stories

Posted in Daily Herald, Letters to the Editor, Politics on October 1, 2025| 1 Comment »

Daily Herald | Posted September 30, 2025

Today, the Daily Herald is joining a growing list of media outlets that no longer allow website commenting on stories.

Why are we stopping now?

The comment section was intended to be a tool to spur dialogue among our readers. Sometimes it succeeded in doing that.

Over time, however, it has become increasingly negative, with comments crossing the line into hate speech, bullying and name-calling. Too much time was being devoted to moderating the comments so that readers with thoughtful and relevant commentary could still have their views heard. For those well-meaning readers, there are other ways to weigh in on content and issues of the day.

Commenting is still allowed on stories posted to Facebook and other social media outlets.

We also welcome letters to the editor at fencepost@dailyherald.com.

Thank you for reading.

Source

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Double diploma: Students will be able to get Harper College degree while in high school

Posted in 220, Barrington High School, Daily Herald, Education, Harper College, Property Taxes, School Districts on September 29, 2025| Leave a Comment »

Harper College in Palatine is teaming with three Northwest suburban school districts to launch a program next year that will allow students to earn an associated degree while still in high school. | Brian Hill/bhill@dailyherald.com

By Christopher Placek | Daily Herald

When they walk across the stage at graduation, some members of the Class of 2028 at three Northwest suburban school districts will receive not only their high school diplomas, but associate degrees too.

Harper College and the three districts — Northwest Suburban High School District 214, Palatine-Schaumburg High School District 211 and Barrington Area Unit District 220 — are launching the College Now dual degree program, which will have motivated high schoolers taking college-level coursework on the Palatine community college’s campus starting in the fall of 2026.

“Harper College is proud to stand with our high school partners in creating meaningful opportunities for students to accelerate their higher education journeys,” said Harper President Avis Proctor. “College Now underscores our shared vision of affordability, access and excellence in education.”

Palatine-Schaumburg High School District 211 Superintendent Judith Campbell, from left, Northwest Suburban High School District 214 Superintendent Scott Rowe, Barrington Area Unit District 220 Superintendent Craig Winkelman, and Harper College President Avis Proctor have inked a partnership that will allow select high school students to simultaneously earn a high school diploma and associate degree. | Courtesy of Harper College

Starting this week, the three high school districts will host information sessions for students and families to learn more, with initial applications from interested sophomores due Oct. 15. Should they meet the program’s qualifications for grades and attendance, they’ll be notified of acceptance within the week.

Initial classes would begin in the fall of 2026, with high school juniors spending mornings at Harper taking college courses such as Biology, Introduction to Psychology and Ethics, then returning to their high schools in the afternoon to take additional college-level classes like Composition and Algebra.

By senior year, students would take most all classes at Harper, but still be able to participate in extracurricular activities at their high schools.

Should they earn a C grade or better in all courses, students will receive an associate of arts degree from Harper.

Read more here.

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