Posted in Accidents, Community Alerts, South Barrington, Traffic on May 6, 2026| Leave a Comment »
South Barrington will launch a new electronic emergency alert system June 1.
Called Everbridge, the free service will let residents know about severe weather, public safety matters, road closures and more via phone, text, email and a mobile app. Alerts are customizable based on user preferences.
To learn more and to register, visit southbarrington.org/emergency-notification-system.
Posted in Education, Entertainment, South Barrington, Stillman Nature Center, Topics Of Interest on May 3, 2026| Leave a Comment »
Submitted by Stillman Nature Center
Try something different this Mother’s Day: see the birds of prey at Stillman Nature Center. Meet the great horned, barn, barred and screech owls, plus a peregrine falcon and red-shouldered and broad-winged hawks, and the star of the show: a snowy owl.
Stillman will bring the birds out so they can be seen up close. Children will have a chance to dissect owl pellets. Drop by anytime between 1 and 3 p.m. Sunday, May 10. The price is $20 per car, cash only. Stillman Nature Center is at 33 W. Penny Road, South Barrington.
Posted in Appointments, BACOG, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI), Elections, Intergovernmental agreements (IGA), Lennie, Open Meetings Act, Overhead, Politics, Property Taxes, Real Estate, School Districts, South Barrington, Springfield, Taxes, Transparency, Unions, Village President on April 28, 2026| Leave a Comment »
The Barrington Area Council of Governments (BACOG) is scheduled to meet this evening beginning at 6:00 PM at the Village of South Barrington Village Hall, 30 South Barrington Road. Their meetings will include:
Meeting agendas are not posted by BACOG, nor are minutes, but their website does state, “Copies of approved minutes for BACOG committee and executive board meetings are available upon request. Please submit requests by email to bacog@bacog.org.
Posted in Press Release, Real Estate, South Barrington on April 14, 2026| Leave a Comment »
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 14, 2026
Contact: Travis Akin
618-303-1108
South Barrington, IL – In an unprecedented move, Allstate Corp. has formally requested the Village of South Barrington to annex the site of its former headquarters, just over a year after the land was legally disconnected from the suburb.
“This is truly a rare occurrence,” said South Barrington Attorney James Vasselli. “We’ve never seen a property owner go from excising land from a municipality to seeking annexation again. It’s a unicorn event.”
The proposed annexation comes as plans for the redevelopment of the approximately 67-acre site, located at the southeast corner of Higgins and Bartlett roads, are taking shape. Opus, a company based in Rosemont, has expressed interest in purchasing the property to construct a light-industrial complex.
This new proposal follows a previous plan put forth by Texas-based Hillwood Development Co. in 2022. The Cook County court granted Allstate’s petition for disconnection in February 2025, but with Hillwood now out of the picture, Opus has a contract to acquire the land.
“One door closes, another door opens,” Vasselli said. “This property was always going to be developed. The question was would the development take place with or without the Village’s input. Thanks to the leadership of the Mayor and others in the South Barrington community – the Village will be involved and that is very good news for residents.”
The Allstate property is strategically situated just north of the Jane Addams Memorial Tollway and adjacent to the popular Arboretum of South Barrington shopping center. The site has remained vacant since Allstate consolidated its operations in Northbrook in 2012, but with Opus’s interest, there is renewed optimism for the area’s development.
Opus plans to construct three buildings, which is two fewer than the previous proposal by Hillwood. Village representatives and Opus met in January to discuss the development, with Mayor Paula McCombie emphasizing the benefits of annexation during their discussions.
Allstate officially filed for annexation on April 7, and the plan was presented publicly at last week’s village board meeting. In her weekly communication to residents, South Barrington Mayor Paula McCombie says the move follows a pattern of businesses showing an interest in South Barrington.
“There is definitely renewed interest in South Barrington because of what we have been able to accomplish in recent months,” McCombie said. “There is a desire to be a part of the exciting growth and development of our community. The future is bright for our community.”
The annexation and subsequent development would not only generate property tax revenue for the village but also alleviate some financial burdens on residents. It would also provide South Barrington officials with a say in the development’s progression.
“We have a seat at the table,” McCombie said. “We look forward to working with our corporate partners in the development of this property. Negotiations are currently underway, with the next step being a presentation to the Plan Commission and Zoning Board of Appeals.”
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Posted in Cook, County, Daily Herald, Hoffman Estates, Land Use, Plum Farm development, Property Taxes, Real Estate, South Barrington, Taxes on April 13, 2026| Leave a Comment »
The large, triangular property in the center of this photograph is at the southeast corner of Higgins and Bartlett roads, near South Barrington. It once was home to Allstate Corp.’s headquarters but has been vacant for years. A company wants to redevelop the land. | Brian Hill/bhill@dailyherald.com
By Russell Lissau | Daily Herald
In an unusual real-estate move, Allstate Corp. has requested South Barrington officials annex the site of its former headquarters — just a little more than a year after the company had the land legally disconnected from the suburb.
South Barrington’s attorney, James Vasselli, said he’s never before heard of a property owner having land excised from a municipality only to turn around and later request annexation.
“(It’s) a unicorn event,” Vasselli said.
The annexation is proposed ahead of a potential redevelopment of the roughly 67-acre site, which is on the southeast corner of Higgins and Bartlett roads. A Rosemont company called the Opus Group wants to purchase the site and construct a light-industrial complex.
The proposal is similar to the one Texas-based Hillwood Development Co. put forth in 2022. Allstate petitioned for disconnection the following year, and it was granted by a Cook County judge in February 2025.
But Hillwood is out of the picture now, and the Opus Group has a contract to purchase the land, Vasselli said.
“One door closes, another door opens,” he said.
The Allstate property is just north of the Jane Addams Memorial Tollway and across the Higgins/Bartlett intersection from the sprawling Arboretum of South Barrington shopping center. The South Barrington Office Center is to its east.
Article continues here.
Posted in 220, AI, Barrington Education Association, Board of Education, Conflict of interest, Data Center, Deception, District 220 referendum, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI), Education, Elections, Ethics, Guest Essay, Illinois Federation of Teachers, Look For The Union Label, Politics, Pritzker’s Rules of Order, Property Taxes, School Districts, South Barrington, Springfield, Taxes, Unions, What the Ficke (Bradford)? on April 7, 2026| 1 Comment »
“As a resident of Barrington, IL, I am deeply concerned about the actions of one of our School Board members, Erin Chan Ding, who has admitted to violating School Board policy, using her position for personal gain and political leverage. Her recent activities have raised eyebrows in our community, as it seems she is prioritizing her run for the Democratic candidate for State Representative of the 52nd District over her duties and responsibilities to our children and community. The Board has already voted that she has flagrantly violated School Board policy.
School Board members should exemplify unbiased dedication to the educational needs and welfare of our students. However, it has come to light that this individual is leveraging her role for publicity to further her political career, diverting attention from our District’s educational priorities. Our students deserve leaders who are fully committed to their well-being, not those looking for personal advancement or caught in political machinations.
Evidence of this misuse includes multiple occasions where she solicited petition signatures during school events in violation of Board policies. She was warned by the Board President in July of the violations and her need to adhere to Board policies and she agreed to do so. Despite these admonitions and Chan Ding’s agreement to adhere to policy in July, she’s continued to repeatedly violate policy. The Board voted for remedial training as the consequence for her violations. This is not an acceptable response to her conscious decision to repeatedly violate the very policies she presided over as one of the 2 Board members on the Policy Committee; particularly where Chan Ding was warned by Board President Bradford publicly at the July Board meeting of the violations but continued violations despite the public admonitions.
Chan Ding’s interests align more with her political campaigning ambitions than with School Board responsibilities. Furthermore, decisions made on critical educational issues are now being scrutinized for potential conflicts of interest influenced by her political agenda. This is not the kind of behavior we can afford to permit, as it undermines the trust and integrity essential to governing bodies like our Board of Education.
Removing this member will not only help restore the Board’s focus on its core mission but also sends a clear message that our community will not stand for misconduct or exploitation of elected positions for ulterior motives. It’s crucial that our School Board reflects the best interests of our students and maintains an unwavering commitment to their education and growth.
Join me in calling for the removal of Chan Ding to ensure our Board remains a place for sincere, student-centered service. Let’s protect the integrity of Barrington’s educational system and hold our officials accountable. Sign this petition today to take a stand for our schools and community.”
Read more here.
Related: “New Evidence of Chan Ding’s Policy Violations and Conflicts of Interest,” “Candidate Erin Chan Ding’s opinion on Data Centers,” “Barrington area Democrats condemn Chan Ding mailers,” “The D220 Board of Ed gets another ‘F’ in accountability & transparency,” “School district’s parking plan defies logic,” “Zoning change defies village policy,” “The Real Issue in Barrington 220 Isn’t Parking or Levies — It’s Leadership Culture,” “Change.org Petition: ‘For the Resignation of Erin Chan Ding ~ D220 Resources are Not for Political Campaigns’,” “BOARD OF ED VOTES, MEMBER CHAN DING MADE FLAGRANT POLICY VIOLATIONS – Part 2,” “BOARD OF ED VOTES, MEMBER CHAN DING MADE FLAGRANT POLICY VIOLATIONS,” “Erin Chan Ding: The violations just keep piling up…,” “Erin Chan Ding starring in another episode of, ‘Rules For Thee But NOT For Me…’,” “District 220’s Lack of Transparency (Updated),” “District 220’s Lack of Transparency,” “Ding Politicking on School District Property,” “Dual School Board and State Rep Positions Legally Incompatible,” “D220 Abuses Taxpayer Funds in favor of Partisan Campaign,” “Ding In Her Own Words – CONFLICTED!,” “Ding Doubles Down,” “Ding’s D220 Deception,” “Chan Ding running in Democratic primary in 52nd,” “Three (3) Democratic candidates queued to run for the IL 52nd District House seat in 2026”
Posted in 220, Agendas, Barrington Education Association, Big Brother, Board of Education, Deception, District 220 referendum, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI), Education, Elections, Ethics, His Master's Voice, Illinois Federation of Teachers, Look For The Union Label, Overhead, Pension Funding, Politics, Pritzker’s Rules of Order, Property Taxes, Real Estate, School Districts, South Barrington, Taxes, Traffic, Transparency, Unions, What the Ficke (Bradford)? on April 6, 2026| Leave a Comment »
The District 220 Board of Education meets Tuesday evening at 6:00 PM at the District Administration Center, 515 W. Main Street. Items on their agenda include:
A copy of the agenda can be viewed here. The meeting will be live streamed on the district YouTube channel.
*Interesting to see NBC Chicago requests.
Posted in Aunt Blabby, Cook, County, IDOT, Illinois Tollway, Property Taxes, Road construction, South Barrington, Taxes, Traffic on March 28, 2026| Leave a Comment »
Friday, South Barrington Village President Paula McCombie shared this in one of her weekly updates to residents:
“As I have reported in previous emails, the upcoming Barrington Road Widening Project will soon get underway. The first step is tree removal, which will begin along Barrington Road between Algonquin Road (IL 62) and Central Road within the next couple of weeks.”
Since we were unfamiliar with the project, we’ve learned this:
“Improvements to Barrington Road relieve congestion and reduce the risk of crashes.
Updates to Barrington Road provide two additional lanes of traffic in each direction separated by a median between Mundhank Road and Algonquin Road. Ardmore Roderick, selected as the prime consultant, leads Phase II engineering services for this transformative project, ensuring that the design and execution of improvements advance the infrastructure and serve the community’s needs.
As the lead firm, Ardmore Roderick is responsible for preparing plans, specifications, and estimates for the road between Illinois Route 62 and Central Road. A new shared-use path fills a gap in Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning’s regional trail system.
Additional improvements modernize and replace traffic signals throughout the corridor and replace the box culvert structure carrying Barrington Road over Poplar Creek. During the Phase II design process, Ardmore Roderick collaborated with the design team to incorporate a pile-supported embankment that strengthens soil stability, realigned the roadway to improve safety, and incorporated walls at strategic locations.”
A brief project description can also be found here.
Buckle up.
Posted in 220, Barrington Education Association, Board of Education, Conflict of interest, Data Center, Deception, District 220 referendum, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI), Education, Elections, Ethics, Goat Rodeo, Illinois Federation of Teachers, League of Women Voters, Legal Expenses, OP/Ed, Politics, Property Taxes, School Districts, South Barrington, Springfield, Taxes, Unions, What the Ficke (Bradford)? on March 20, 2026| Leave a Comment »
Erin Chan Ding posted the following to her Facebook followers Tuesday:
While Chan Ding claims to be ‘honored’ to continue her service on the Barrington 220 Board of Education, her actions during her failed primary campaign suggest she has forgotten who she truly serves.
By using District resources to fuel a partisan run—earning her an official ethics sanction—and subsequently accepting campaign donations from the very union whose contracts she must impartially negotiate, she has created a profound conflict of interest.
Most disappointingly, she has let down the constituents who elected her on the fundamental promise of nonpartisan leadership. A school board seat is a sacred trust meant for the advocacy of students, not a political steppingstone.
To treat the Board as a ‘consolation prize’ after a partisan defeat, while carrying the weight of these ethical breaches, is a disservice to every voter who expected her to put our schools above her own political ambitions.
Related: “Chan Ding, Teachers Unions losers in IL 52nd District Primary Election,” “New Evidence of Chan Ding’s Policy Violations and Conflicts of Interest,” “Candidate Erin Chan Ding’s opinion on Data Centers,” “Barrington area Democrats condemn Chan Ding mailers,” “The D220 Board of Ed gets another ‘F’ in accountability & transparency,” “School district’s parking plan defies logic,” “Zoning change defies village policy,” “The Real Issue in Barrington 220 Isn’t Parking or Levies — It’s Leadership Culture,” “Change.org Petition: ‘For the Resignation of Erin Chan Ding ~ D220 Resources are Not for Political Campaigns’,” “BOARD OF ED VOTES, MEMBER CHAN DING MADE FLAGRANT POLICY VIOLATIONS – Part 2,” “BOARD OF ED VOTES, MEMBER CHAN DING MADE FLAGRANT POLICY VIOLATIONS,” “Erin Chan Ding: The violations just keep piling up…,” “Erin Chan Ding starring in another episode of, ‘Rules For Thee But NOT For Me…’,” “District 220’s Lack of Transparency (Updated),” “District 220’s Lack of Transparency,” “Ding Politicking on School District Property,” “Dual School Board and State Rep Positions Legally Incompatible,” “D220 Abuses Taxpayer Funds in favor of Partisan Campaign,” “Ding In Her Own Words – CONFLICTED!,” “Ding Doubles Down,” “Ding’s D220 Deception,” “Chan Ding running in Democratic primary in 52nd,” “Three (3) Democratic candidates queued to run for the IL 52nd District House seat in 2026”
Posted in 220, Associated Press, Barrington Education Association, Board of Education, Conflict of interest, Data Center, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI), Education, Ethics, His Master's Voice, Illinois Federation of Teachers, Illinois State Board of Elections, Look For The Union Label, Politics, Property Taxes, School Districts, South Barrington, Springfield, Taxes, Unions, What the Ficke (Bradford)? on March 18, 2026| Leave a Comment »
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