Posted in Agendas, BCFPD, Intergovernmental agreements (IGA), Jewel-Osco, Open Meetings Act, Overhead, Pension Funding, Politics, Property Taxes, Public Safety, Real Estate, Taxes, Transparency, Unions, VBHPD on April 20, 2026| Leave a Comment »
The lease on the BCFPD fire station adjacent to Village Hall is being reviewed according to their agenda. | Courtesy Google maps
The Barrington Countryside Fire Protection District (BCFPD) Board of Trustees meets this evening at 6:30 PM at 22222 N. Pepper Road in Lake Barrington. Topics on their agenda include:
A copy of their agenda can be viewed here.
Posted in Politics, Pritzker’s Rules of Order, Property Taxes, Real Estate, School Districts, Unions, Village Code, Zoning Board on April 19, 2026| 1 Comment »
Mike Moran, Village of Barrington President
“Barrington has always taken a thoughtful and balanced approach to growth, preserving the character of our neighborhoods while planning responsibly for the future. With that in mind, I am writing to share serious concerns and urge opposition to House Bill (HB) 5626, known as the BUILD legislation. View the full text of the bill and its status here.
This proposal would override local zoning and require municipalities like Barrington to allow multi-family housing on nearly every residential lot.
Local zoning authority grants the Village the power to create and maintain single-family residential districts, which cover most of the Village’s footprint. In these locations today, only single-family homes are permitted. This helps to maintain the existing character and density of our neighborhoods.
What BUILD Would Allow by Lot Size:
Because all single-family residential lots in the Village exceed 5,000 sq. ft., this legislation would allow for any single-family residential lot in the Village to be redeveloped into a 6 or 8-unit building without any ability for the Village to prohibit such redevelopment. In short, if you live in a single-family residential district, the home next to yours could become a 6 or 8-unit apartment building.
This legislation raises several concerns. It removes local control, does not reflect the character of our neighborhoods, and could place additional strain on parking, infrastructure and schools. It also creates the risk that existing single-family homes, including naturally affordable housing, could be replaced by higher-density development, leaving uncertainty about future costs and fees.
Barrington supports responsible growth, but these decisions should remain local and grounded in careful planning. The Village will continue to share updates and information about this legislation in the coming months. I encourage you to visit the Village’s website to stay informed.”
Related: “(Ignoring public opinion) Pritzker says of BUILD Plan for homes would not cost taxpayers,” “Gov. JB Pritzker’s ambitious housing plan for Illinois: More four-flats, looser rules,” “Pritzker to propose statewide zoning laws to spur homebuilding, limit local control,” “McLaughlin’s press conference video recording regarding Pritzker’s proposed municipal zoning powers grab posted,” “‘It’s just a bad idea’: Suburban officials oppose Pritzker’s plan to reduce local control over residential It’s just zoning”
Posted in Clown Car, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI), Fat Bastard, FUBAR, Mad Cows, New Normal?, Politics, Pritzker’s Rules of Order, Property Taxes, Real Estate, Springfield, Taxes, The Center Square, Topics Of Interest, Zoning Board on April 18, 2026| Leave a Comment »
Image courtesy PridesCrossing
By Jim Talamonti | The Center Square
Gov. J.B. Pritzker has ramped up his campaign for new housing in Illinois, and he expects taxpayers to pitch in.
After announcing the Building Up Illinois Developments Plan during his budget address in February, the governor urged support for it Friday at the City Club of Chicago.
Pritzker said the BUILD Plan is ambitious and comprehensive.
“It’s designed to eliminate unnecessary barriers and lower costs for housing construction and renovation, produce a wider range of family-friendly housing types and streamline permitting,” the governor said.
Pritzker said Illinois faces a gap of more than 142,000 housing units and needs to build about 225,000 units over the next five years.
The governor said most of the BUILD Plan would not cost taxpayers anything, but he said there would be an investment.
“The BUILD Plan also includes about $250 million to help spur development of housing and help people to afford housing,” Pritzker said.
Article continues here.
Related: “Gov. JB Pritzker’s ambitious housing plan for Illinois: More four-flats, looser rules,” “Pritzker to propose statewide zoning laws to spur homebuilding, limit local control,” “McLaughlin’s press conference video recording regarding Pritzker’s proposed municipal zoning powers grab posted,” “‘It’s just a bad idea’: Suburban officials oppose Pritzker’s plan to reduce local control over residential It’s just zoning”
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 BACOG, Chicago Tribune, Girlie man, Home Occupation Ordinance, Look For The Union Label, Politics, Pritzker’s Rules of Order, Property Taxes, Real Estate, School Districts, Springfield, Unions, Zoning Board on April 13, 2026| Leave a Comment »
Developer Nick Serra steps April 7, 2026, onto the future balcony of a newly constructed third floor unit in a building he’s redeveloping to add rental apartments in Chicago’s Uptown neighborhood. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)
By Olivia Olander | Chicago Tribune
Above the bay windows that run up the center of a two-story apartment building in Uptown, Nick Serra stands on what had been the roof but will soon be the balcony for a new third-floor unit he’s adding.
In many circumstances, the construction work would be a sure sign that another traditional Chicago apartment building was being gutted and converted into a single-family home that could fetch more than $1 million.
Instead, the new top floor will be a four-bedroom apartment that, along with other changes Serra is making, will turn the entire building into a six-unit development capable of housing a dozen people.
“Versus, you know, two people and their golden retriever,” Serra said, as he stood last week on the unfinished top floor.
Serra is part of a cohort of developers adding units to existing buildings rather than tearing them down or converting them to single-family homes — a practice many housing advocates say helps with affordability in high-demand neighborhoods. But finding lots zoned to allow the additional square footage and density he needs is difficult, particularly on the North Side, where he primarily works. Under current rules, he has managed roughly two dozen such projects over five years.
Those difficulties finding lots for such projects could change significantly under a package of proposals from Gov. JB Pritzker that would make it easier for developers and property owners across Illinois to build the kind of multiunit housing Serra specializes in.
The plan, a cornerstone political and policy piece of Pritzker’s State of the State address in February, would loosen zoning restrictions that currently limit the residential density allowed on a given lot and, supporters say, open the door to new multifamily buildings across the state.
Additional local rules for building size and height could still apply, potentially restricting a building of the exact dimensions of the one in Uptown.
But the prospect of allowing four-flats or six-unit apartments on quiet suburban streets, and granny flats in backyards across the state, has raised alarms among many local leaders.
The response from the governor’s office? Something has to be done in the face of a housing shortage across the state, and the Pritzker administration is pushing forward anyway.
Story continues here.
Related: “Pritzker to propose statewide zoning laws to spur homebuilding, limit local control,” “McLaughlin’s press conference video recording regarding Pritzker’s proposed municipal zoning powers grab posted,” “‘It’s just a bad idea’: Suburban officials oppose Pritzker’s plan to reduce local control over residential It’s just zoning”
Posted in Agendas, Algonquin Rd, Animal Welfare, Barrington Hills Park District, Barrington Hills Polo Club, BCFPD, Bicyclists, Big Red, BraveHearts, Commercial Horse Boarding, Countryside Elementary School, Deception, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI), Don't Change Barrington Hills, Ethics, Financial Statements, Fox River Valley Hunt, FPDCC, FRVPC, Horizon Farm, Horse Boarding, Intergovernmental agreements (IGA), Land Use, Lighting Ordinance, Mad Cows, Massbach Hounds, Open Meetings Act, Overhead, Politics, Privacy, Property Taxes, Public Safety, Real Estate, Riding Center Advisory Committee, Riding Club Commission, Riding Club of Barrington Hills, Save 5 Acres, Simple Minds, SOS Party, Taxes, The Other Half, Transparency, Unions, Well Water Quality, Your Barrington Hills on April 8, 2026| Leave a Comment »
The Barrington Hills Park District Board/Riding Cult of Barrington Hills will hold their monthly meeting this evening in person and via Zoom at 6:00 PM. Some topics on their agenda include:
A copy of their agenda can be viewed here. Instructions for accessing the meeting remotely can be found here.
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 AI, Audio Recordings, Clown Car, Comprehensive Plan, Crime, Data Center, Deception, Dumb and Dumber, ePacket Agendas, Ethics, FOIA, Intergovernmental agreements (IGA), Land Disconnection, Land Use, Lennie, New Normal?, Newsletter, OMA, One Barrington Hills, OP/Ed, Open Meetings Act, Perjury, Plan Commission, Politics, Privacy, Property Taxes, Real Estate, Simple Minds, Taxes, Topics Of Interest, Transcripts, Transparency, Village Attorney, Village Board, Village Clerk, Village Code, Village Director of Administration, Village Government, Village President, Zoning Board on April 3, 2026| 3 Comments »
Village of Barrington Hills board members (l-r) JC Clarke, Laura AB Ekstrom, Brian Cecola, Marsha McClary, David Riff and Jessica Hoffmann. Not pictured: Thomas Strauss.
Our Village Board of Trustees met Monday evening. This marked the third meeting since their December 2025 meeting when residents were blindsided to learn, “110 Acre AI data center campus pitched to Village Board.”
The first speaker Monday night expressed their continued dissatisfaction with the Board as follows:
“All right. Good evening. My name is Aaron Becker. By now you probably know who I am.
I’m speaking tonight in regards to the Village attorney’s letter in response to my questions from January 27th,and I’ve got a couple other comments as well.
I really appreciate the Village responding in righting to my quick response. However, I ask respectfully and directly why several of my explicit questions and requests were not answered at all. They were just omitted, so… .
The response explains why it believes its past actions were lawful, but it does not confirm whether any of the safeguards I requested would be implemented. My question tonight is simple: was the omission intentional?
In the Village Summer 2021 newsletter, residents were told by Trustee Ekstrom, she’s not here today, and I’m going to quote her, ‘Most residents know that they can attend the Village Board meetings, many may not realize that committee and commission meetings are also open to the public. Our Village is a community above all else and having input from our residents reflected in our decision making is not only welcome but encouraged.’
I’ll say this much, I genuinely appreciate that perspective and I believe her. With that in mind, here’s some feedback:
Please confirm that all off-record communications with Brennan Development Group will stop.
Please stop project specific merit discussions absent of formal filings.
Please confirm that unsupported tax claims will not be repeated by the Village without substantiation.
Please confirm that records will be preserved.
Please do everything in your power to maintain true independence of the Plan Commission.
I’d also like the Board to reflect on some of the statements Board of Trustees members have made in the past. In the same Summer 2021 newsletter, residents were told by Trustee Strauss that quote, ‘We live in a special community, and the Board is committed to maintaining our heritage.’
And Trustee Riff said, ‘I would like to make certain that we remain focused on the budget, protect our residential zoning rights (or rather zoning laws), and ensure that our community remains safe and secure for all residents.’
So those are strong words. And they matter. So I’ll ask each of you as Trustee members, do you believe that based on all of the emails we have now seen and read that you have honored those commitments? That you are protecting our residential zoning rights. And that you are maintaining our heritage as a Village.
I’ll be honest, I don’t. I read all the emails. I don’t believe it.
You have to go to bed at night. You have to look yourself in the mirror and say that you believe you’ve protected the residential zoning rights with your actions and your words.
My wife spoke last month about actions and words and holding people accountable when their actions and words don’t align. And that’s what we’re here doing asking of our leaders for continuity between their actions and their words.
That’s all I’m asking. When you say you’re going to do something, follow through and do it. Please.
So, to summarize, respond to the five requests I had in the letter either acknowledging you made a mistake and how you’re going to fix it, or that you made no mistake.
Either way we deserve clarity we deserve responses to those.
That’s my comment. Thank you very much.”
The audio recordings from the March 30, 2026, Board of Trustees meeting can be found here.
Related: “Do you trust our Board of Trustees? We don’t. But you decide for yourself once we have finished. (Follow-up),” “Do you trust our Board of Trustees? We don’t. But you decide for yourself once we have finished. (Part 3),” “Do you trust our Board of Trustees? We don’t. But you decide for yourself once we have finished. (Part 2),” “Do you trust our Board of Trustees? We don’t. But you decide for yourself once we have finished. (Part 1),” “110 Acre AI data center campus pitched to Village Board”
Posted in Real Estate on March 30, 2026| 1 Comment »
A 10,000-square-foot mansion resembling a castle in Barrington Hills sold on March 9 for $1.2 million, $700,000 below its original asking price in 2023. (Algonquin Township Assessor)
By Bob Goldsborough | For the Chicago Tribune
A 10,000-square-foot mansion that looks like a castle set on 6 acres in Barrington Hills sold on March 9 for $1.2 million — $700,000 below its original asking price in 2023.
Built in 1975, the five-bedroom mansion was not originally designed to resemble a castle. The seller, heating and air conditioning company owner Ryan Gopin, made a variety of adjustments to the mansion after buying it in 2010 for $500,000, including adding turrets and battlements.
Listing agent Rob Morrison of Coldwell Banker told Elite Street that the home’s major selling point was “the uniqueness of it all,” including its location backing up to Spring Creek and then, on the other side of it, homes with acreage on Plum Tree Road.
“You don’t see a lot of castle motifs from the exterior as far as the front elevation,” Morrison said. “And then obviously its setting was quite unique as well. The majority of Barrington Hills is minimum 5-acre lots, but this property almost felt like it was overlooking a valley because there was nothing behind it.”
Article continues here.
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