The Barrington Village Board approved the leases of three local nonprofits for office space within Barrington’s White House at the village board meeting on Monday, April 27.
Barrington Children’s Charities, Let It Be Us and the Barrington Area Conservation Trust will all be renting space on the second floor of the mansion at 145 W. Main St. when it opens upon completion of the building’s renovation later this spring.
“We’re really excited,” said Susan Stoga, founding board member for Let It Be Us, a Barrington-based advocacy group for foster children.
Stoga said Let It Be Us has been operating partially out of Susan McConnell’s photography studio at Hough and Main streets. McConnell is the founder and director of Let It Be Us.
“The opportunity to be in the White House just opens up so much opportunity,” said Stoga. “We’re working throughout the entire state, so to be in one place is really great.”
The Barrington Area Conservation Trust will also be moving from their current location on Main Street into a larger office within the White House.
“We’re looking forward to it,” said Lisa Cote, development director for BACT. “It really gives us the opportunity to be there with other nonprofits.”
Cote said the conservation group’s new location would offer more space for meetings and events, including the mansion’s third floor ballroom area.
“Those kinds of things are going to be really advantageous,” she said.
Barrington Children’s Charities is vacating its South Cook Street location into the White House as well.
Barrington Village Manager Jeff Lawler said the village received several applications from other area nonprofits seeking to rent space in the White House’s second floor, which has been dedicated exclusively for nonprofits.
“It’s a beautiful location for them,” he said.
Lawler said although there is still space available on the White House’s second floor, the village has yet to approve more leases. It hopes to have the space filled by later this spring.
