Downtown Barrington makeover starts next week

Work is set to begin next week on transforming Barrington’s downtown streetscape, marking the first phase of an effort to bring new energy to the village center.

Village officials said work is scheduled to get underway Monday.

The focus will be on three key areas: East Station Street between Hough Street and Grove Avenue; South Cook Street between Park Avenue and Lake Street; and the northwest section of Park.

The project will involve removing pavers and replacing them with new sidewalks, expanding outdoor dining areas, installing landscape beds and planters and accenting with clay brick pavers.

“The streetscape was designed specifically for Barrington to enhance the beauty and architecture of our downtown,” village Director of Development Services Jennifer Tennant said.

The village borrowed roughly $1.5 million to fund the project and will pay off the debt with home rule sales tax revenues.

Village President Mike Moran said the project is the first step in a long-term effort to breathe new life into the downtown area.

“We’ve got the quintessential downtown — it just needs a little love and care,” he said.

Moran said construction is expected to wrap up by June or early July. Downtown businesses will be open during construction.

When the work is finished, the area will see 24 new seats for outdoor dining on Park Avenue and a bump-out area at Station and Cook. A dumpster across from Cook Street Coffee will be relocated, freeing up space for public gathering.

Moran said the goal is to attract new restaurants and retail.

He noted Barrington’s downtown draws from such surrounding communities as Barrington Hills and Inverness, a customer base of 80,000 to 85,000 people, in addition to the 11,000 residents in the village.

“We’re really trying to have a downtown that the community wants to come to multiple times a day,” he said.