The “Barrington’s White House Restoration” project, submitted by the Village of Barrington, was selected for the 2015 Donald P. Klein award from the Barrington Area Council of Governments (BACOG). The award was presented to Village President Karen Darch at the BACOG member dinner held on October 30th.
Pictured here are: Peg Blanchard, Director of Economic Development
Karen Darch, Village President
Jeff Lawlor, Village Manager
Greg Summers, Director of Development Services
The Village purchased the historic John Robertson, Jr. house in 2007 as part of its downtown revitalization efforts. Its intent was to restore and re-purpose the architecturally-significant house, make it self-sustaining, and produce a cultural resource for the community. The Barrington project utilized committees of citizens from throughout the BACOG area, who led fundraising, landscape planning, interior design and grant writing. Barrington’s White House has been fully restored, with the original ballroom re-established for cultural events on the third floor, a bride’s room for weddings and office space for the area’s not-for-profits on the second floor, and a community meeting and events space with a catering service area on the first floor. Notably, the White House was recently listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Barrington’s White House now provides an historic venue in the downtown area – and central in the BACOG area – for community organizations and for cultural, civic and community gatherings and events.
The nominees for the Donald P. Klein award are outstanding projects taking place in the BACOG communities that benefit area residents. BACOG’s Judging Committee members considered other nominations including “Flint Creek Restoration” from the Village of North Barrington where 1,700 feet of stream bank was restored in cooperation with ten private landowners. The restoration stabilized eroded banks, reconnected channelized streams to the historic floodplain, added native plants, and improved aquatic habitat.
The Barrington Area Council of Governments created the Donald P. Klein award in 2010 to posthumously honor the first and long-time Executive Director of BACOG, Donald Patrick Klein. The award recognizes excellence in the current projects and activities of the BACOG villages and townships which further the goals advanced by Mr. Klein for over 30 years and the current priorities of the BACOG organization, all of which enhance the quality of life and the environment in the region.
The Barrington Area Council of Governments is a regional planning organization that fosters intergovernmental cooperation. Covering a 85-square-mile geographical area, BACOG represents eight municipalities townships in areas of Cook, Lake, McHenry and Kane Counties. BACOG’s government members are: Barrington, Barrington Hills, Barrington Township, Cuba Township, Lake Barrington, North Barrington, South Barrington and Tower Lakes.
The three independent Judging Committee members have planning backgrounds and hail from the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning, the Metropolitan Planning Council, and the University of Chicago.
For more information about BACOG, contact Executive Director Janet Agnoletti at 847-381-7871 or visit www.bacog.org.