Barrington authorizes demolition of two buildings

Two commercial buildings in downtown Barrington now owned by the village are slated for demolition to improve the properties’ marketability to developers.

Village board members gathered for a special meeting at 7 a.m. Friday to authorize the demolition of the former Chase Bank building at 120 S. Hough St./Rte. 59 and the former Chuck Hines building at 141 W. Main St./Lake-Cook Road.

The demolition contract was awarded to Barrington Hills-based Langos Corp. for $139,485.

The early meeting was held as a convenience to get the village board together for the vote as officials didn’t want to wait until the next regular meeting on Nov. 14 to take action, Village Manager Jeff Lawler said.

Getting the demolitions done earlier will help avoid surrounding businesses being affected after the start of the holiday shopping season.

“We thought this was the time to get it done,” Lawler said.

The exact dates of the demolition will be determined by the length of time required for asbestos removal at the bank building, which is beginning today.

Two village-owned houses at 132 and 138 W. Station St. that had been converted to commercial use also were targeted for demolition for the same reasons.

But village board members and staff ultimately agreed to hold off on those until the spring because they provide sight and sound barriers for neighbors. Village officials strongly hope the houses will be replaced by new commercial development during the 2012 construction season, Lawler said.

Further asbestos removal will be necessary before the houses are demolished.

Langos’ contract covers asbestos removal and demolition of the two houses, and would be reduced by $25,722 if they are not taken down for any reason.

The village bought all these properties to expedite and better control redevelopment in the commercial district. The plan has always been to sell them off to private developers.