The Barrington Village Board has approved developer plans to build a modern office complex along a main section of the business district.
Trustees Daniel Frommeyer and Karen Darch voted against the 27,000-square-foot Barrington Center at 3030 E. Main St., because they thought it didn’t adhere to the historical look the village was trying to achieve downtown.
“It didn’t seem to fit in with the neighboring buildings as well as it should. It’s a nice building, but I felt it was too modern. It wasn’t harmonious with the downtown,” Darch said.
Building owner Barrington Services Group won’t commit to putting retail stores on the ground level. A proposed zoning ordinance calls for retail stores on the ground floor in the downtown, but developers don’t have to comply with the proposal until it becomes law.
The village board approved the plans at its meeting Monday night. Trustee Jerry Conners said at an earlier meeting that it was becoming more difficult to shop in Barrington. “Service businesses and office buildings are replacing retail,” he said.
Building owner Fred Weinert said the retailer would have to be willing to pay high rents. “Today this (street) is not a retail area,” he said.
“Open your eyes,” Trustee David Schmidt said. “There are major retail anchors that would be willing to pay your rent.”
