Seven feet.
That was what a gaggle of village officials, a developer and bystanders came to see recently on what could be the site of a $165 million, 500-resident senior-living community in Barrington.
Barrington Venture has proposed building its complex on 117 acres at 433 Northwest Highway.
Village trustees have said the height of the buildings must be limited to 52 feet for it to have a chance of gaining the village’s approval. But the developer said he needs an extra 7 feet to make his project viable.
The demonstration was orchestrated to show trustees and residents that 7 additional feet doesn’t make much difference.
Trustee Karen Darch, who said she hasn’t taken sides on the proposal, asked the developer to mark the two heights with balloons so that residents could see for themselves whether 7 feet made much difference.
So amid the old, spreading oak trees, the developers raised into the air a rented cherry picker with two weather balloons attached–the top of the yellow balloon marked 59 feet, the red balloon marked 52 feet.
The first balloon marked the high point of the proposed facility’s health center.
“This is our toughest test,” said developer David L. Smith.
Village administrators, two trustees and nearby residents milled about, and off in the distance stood three officials from Northwest Community Hospital, who observed the proceedings. The hospital has proposed building a medical office on an adjacent site.
Barrington Venture’s plan includes construction of a 60-bed nursing home, single-family homes, condominiums and assisted-care apartments. The scale of the project has triggered protests from neighbors.
But it has also garnered support from residents who say Barrington needs more senior housing.
“I think everyone is afraid of spoiling a farming community that hasn’t existed for 150 years,” said resident Allen Douglas, a project supporter who came out to watch the balloon demonstration. “Here we have someone who is willing to spend money on a quality project, and we are arguing over 7 feet. It doesn’t make sense.”
The developer and trustees agreed that the height issue would not kill the project. But the demonstration was important because it gave everyone a chance to consider the structure’s height.
With the cherry picker in place, Trustee Darch walked over to Northwest Highway, straining to see the balloons. Striding alongside her was Smith, the developer, blueprints in hand.
“You can’t see anything until you get to this point,” Smith said.
Standing in the exit driveway of Harris Suburban Bank of Barrington’s drive-through banking lanes, a short distance away, the two bent down to look under the canopy over the drive-through. The cherry picker and both balloons were clearly visible.
“This is the only place you can see it,” Smith said.
The trustees climbed into Trustee David Schmidt’s car and drove into the Eastwood neighborhood, peering out the windows, looking for balloons.
“I don’t see anything. Do you?” Schmidt asked Darch.
“Nope,” she replied.
At the entrance to the Eastwood neighborhood, Schmidt zipped three times around a center island, straining over his shoulder to see if he could see the balloons.
“I can’t see anything,” he said.
