‘Now is the time to be in Barrington’: village serves up positive economic outlook
Barrington officials dished out a heaping helping of positivity about the village this week to an audience of brokers, developers, potential tenants, property owners and managers in an effort to promote economic growth.
“Now is the time to be in Barrington,” Village President Karen Darch told the group at Tuesday’s “Be in Barrington” breakfast at the Barrington White House.
Village Manager Anderson touted the village’s economic position, highlighting Barrington Aa1 bond rating.
“AAA, the top of the rung, is really reserved for larger communities,” he said. “We're a stutter step off of that.”
Anderson recapped some additions to the economic landscape — restaurants like Epic Burger, GiGi’s Wine Bar & Bistro, and significant movement in the automotive sector, including the relocation of the Cadillac dealership to the Motor Werks campus.
He mentioned the addition of 156 residential units within the past seven years, the most recent being a 15-unit condo building on Glendale Avenue.
Deputy Village Manager Marie Hansen outlined developments on the horizon. They include The Nest, a state-of-the-art child care facility opening this year at 310 E. James St., as well as eight luxury rowhomes at 150 Washington St. Also, a Dunkin’ Donuts and Baskin Robbins drive-through will be relocating and opening at 306 W. Northwest Highway.
Director of Development Services Jennifer Tennant further discussed upcoming development. The most anticipated is the redevelopment of the “Golden Triangle” bounded by Hough Street, Liberty Street and the Canadian National Railway tracks. The Mylo Barrington, at 200-300 N. Hough St., will offer 125 residential units, 12,195 square feet of restaurant/retail space and 37 car condominiums.
Tennant also discussed “very key second-generation” restaurant spaces like the former McGonigal’s Pub at 105 S. Cook St. and the former Farmhouse on North at 111 North Ave. finding new life.
“These are both great locations in our downtown, beautiful, unique facilities in their own right,” she said.