Plans for a 344-unit housing development in Barrington arrived at the town planner’s office late last month. 

The law firm of Blish and Cavanagh recently submitted the application for a comprehensive plan permit for “Belton Court Village” — the housing project would fill the 39.5-acre property that had been home to Zion Bible College and, prior to that, Barrington College. The property is owned by Chinese-based Shineharmony Holdings, Inc. 

Barrington officials recently said the application for “Belton Court Village” was incomplete; certain documents and information had not yet been filed with the planning department. The documents that were submitted show plans for the 344-unit “traditional neighborhood development” that would feature 220 multi-family apartments (likely condominiums), 66 townhouses, and 58 detached single-family homes. The project also calls for approximately 5,000-square feet of community space or retail space. 

The paperwork submitted by Blish and Cavanagh also stated that the development will offer 25 percent, approximately 86 of the 344 total housing units, as affordable, under the provisions of the state’s low and moderate income act. 

This is not the first time Shineharmony officials have submitted housing plans for the property. In Jan. 2023, a representative for Shineharmony shared a presentation with the Barrington Planning Board for “Belton Court Village.” The design firm DZP CoDesign had been contracted to develop a plan for the property — it featured a mix of housing types and sizes, pocket parks and green spaces, small storefronts, and a community recreation center that would be open to the general public. 

The recent development application included some schematics for the proposed housing. There was a document showing the overhead view of the property — at the center of the development were two large multi-story buildings that would include numerous apartments. Smaller-sized housing units filled the remainder of the property. The development plan also stated that the “West wing and tower portion of Belton Court mansion will be preserved and converted into community/retail space.”

Belton Court mansion is included on the National Register of Historic Places. Almost all of the buildings that had once filled the college campus property have been demolished. After years of being left vacant, the buildings had become targets for vandals; weather conditions and general wear and tear had also taken a toll on the buildings. 

A few years ago, town officials ordered the property owner to secure or raze the remaining buildings. There has also been security guards stationed at the property, although from time to time the police are still called for people trespassing there and other incidents. 

Unit prices

The application filed by Blish and Cavanagh features a variety of documents, including technical reports on the proposed development’s potential impact on the town’s sewer system, traffic studies, and a breakdown of list prices for the apartments once they are completed. The market-rate units range in price from $368,000 for a one-bedroom, one-bathroom unit to $1.3 million for a four-bedroom, 3.5-bathroom unit. 

It also includes a list of prices for the proposed 86 affordable units. They range from $276,666 for a one-bedroom, one-bathroom unit to $384,492 for a four-bedroom, 2.5-bathroom unit. 

Currently, the property houses three buildings: the 55,000-square-foot Belton Court (and storage areas); the 23,000-square-foot gymnasium; and 3,936-square-foot residential building on Middle Highway (and shed).

Application fee?

During the 2023 Planning Board meeting where the development of the property was discussed, officials asked if the project would be age-restricted. At that time, Charlie Kalocsay, a representative from the property owner Shineharmony Holdings LLC, said the development team would prefer not to have restrictions. He added that the size of the homes would likely create a similar effect and serve to restrict the number of families who would move in. An official on the planning said that a development with 350 housing units could bring 700 children or more to Barrington schools. 

Kalocsay is listed as president of Shineharmony Holdings, Inc. on documents included in the current application. In a memo to Barrington officials dated Aug. 6, Kalocsay wrote that Shineharmony Holdings, Inc. is requesting that the town consider waiving the $34,400 application fee (344 units at $100 per unit) based on two factors. The first is that since purchasing the property in 2011, Shineharmony has paid more than $1.5 million in property taxes to the town “without burdening” the town expenses for education and municipal services. The second factor, Kalocsay wrote, is that the development would bring 86 units of affordable housing the Barrington.