Barrett Homes - Chicago, Illinois

brent S.

As a person in the construction industry over 20 years, I can personally state that the team at Barrett Homes is among the top 10% of the developers in the city of Chicago.

Their material selections, level of quality and thoughtful design, our apparent in their end product. Apartments to custom single-family homes this team is capable of consistently turning out a top notch home/condo.

Even their retail / rental properties Carl, some of the custom built projects throughout the city.

Barrett Homes exudes confidence, compassion, and quality with every project built. There have been times when this contractor and developer have bent over backwards to ensure that their customer is getting a fair market value beyond what can be expected.

You will be beyond satisfied if you work with Barrett Homes.

Cody C.

As a concerned community member impacted by ongoing construction activities, I find it necessary to highlight several issues encountered with Barrett Homes, particularly at their 4102 North Sheridan Road site in Uptown. These concerns encompass poor construction quality, safety lapses, significant environmental and community disruption, and consistent blockages in local access ways *as detailed in the attached images*.
1. Quality of Construction:
Attached images clearly depict the subpar construction quality overseen by Barrett Homes. Notable among the issues is an apparently damaged subfloor, evidently compromised due to inadequate protection from environmental elements, raising serious questions about the durability and safety of the construction work.
2. Safety Concerns:
Safety at the construction site has been compromised on multiple occasions, including an incident where *scaffolding collapsed* onto an adjacent building, breaking my apartment window at 1 am in the process. This occurrence underscores a lack of adherence to safety standards and protocols, endangering people nearby and demonstrating a disregard for proper construction practices.
3. Environmental and Community Disruption:
The community has faced significant disruptions due to Barrett Homes' construction practices. A critical issue involves persistent dust pollution, particularly from lime concrete dust, which has extensively coated nearby cars and buildings. This has led to potential health risks and property damage, highlighting the need for more effective dust control measures. Despite multiple communications urging remediation and proposing specific actions such as enhanced dust control measures and regular cleaning, the follow-up from Barrett Homes has been inadequate, with the problem persisting.
4. Access and Mobility Issues:
Additionally, the consistent blocking of the alley by construction activities has severely hindered local mobility, affecting daily operations for residents and businesses alike. This persistent issue not only inconveniences the community but also poses risks in cases of emergency where clear access routes are essential.
5. Communication Gaps:
The dialogue between the community and Barrett Homes reveals considerable delays and at times, a lack of response to urgent issues raised by residents. This not only portrays Barrett Homes’ indifference towards community welfare but also suggests significant flaws in their operational responsiveness.
In Summary:
The documented evidence and observations strongly indicate that Barrett Homes must urgently improve their construction practices and community engagement strategies. The ongoing impact of their activities on the neighborhood and environment is untenable and requires immediate and effective action. The community needs to continue holding Barrett Homes accountable, demanding higher standards and greater transparency in all future projects.

kirsten P.

I have loved working with and getting to know the Barrett Homes team! They are responsive and did a great job listening to my requests and working with my family's needs. I have been living in a Barrett Home for over a year now and I can tell you that their practical designs withstand all of the Chicago seasons! As someone that hosts often, I am always thrilled to share the design concepts including the tall ceilings, open layout and details in cabinetry and tiles. Their team of professionals always came with knowledge and thoroughly answered our questions - I would highly recommend working with this team!

Danny G.

I am a real estate agent and have been practicing real estate in Chicago for nearly 25 years. The bulk of my career has been spent working with builders and developers of residential and mixed-use buildings on Chicago's north side. I can say unequivocally that Barrett Homes is among the best (if not THE best) builder I have ever worked with.

At every step along the construction process they are thoughtful, methodical, obsessed with quality and extraordinary detail-oriented. They pay extra attention to what is behind the walls and how to build a structure correctly - so that it is as maintenance-free as possible and stands the test of time. They take extraordinary measures every chance they can to improve their process, materials and level of finish.

A few years back they met with one of Chicago's top building inspectors to learn about the typical pitfalls inspectors see in new construction. They did this not just so they could avoid those pitfalls, but so they could strive toward perfection - which they do every day.

The Barretts (brothers John and Mike) are extremely easy to work with, take pride in their finished product and beyond all else... they are just decent, good human beings... full of honesty and integrity. I could go on-and-on, but suffice it to say, if you ever have the opportunity to own, rent or have a custom home built for you, you couldn't ask for a better builder.

Kevin C.

We had the pleasure of working with Barrett Homes to build our first home in Chicago, and the experience from start to finish was exceptional. The quality of workmanship is evident in every corner of our home, showcasing their meticulous attention to detail. What truly sets Barrett Homes apart, however, are the owners, Mike and John. Their honesty and patience throughout the process made a typically stressful journey feel seamless and enjoyable. Both are incredibly easy to work with, always available to answer questions or address any concerns we had. Their dedication to ensuring our satisfaction was evident in every interaction. We were very happy with our home and highly recommend Barrett Homes to anyone looking to build their dream home. They are not just builders; they are partners in turning your vision into a reality.

Brent T.

We recently built a home with the Barrett Homes team and the experience was excellent. Having gut renovated and lived through new construction before, the Barrett Homes team was by far the best experience my family has ever gone through. It does not even compare to others and we consider them one of the highest-end builders in Chicago. Never once was there a shortcut taken. The attention to detail and craftsmanship was amazing. If a team member made a mistake. Mike and John were class acts, never nickeled-and-dimed us and were true to their word (and timeline) throughout the entire process. Paul, the GM, is arguably my favorite person in Chicago and goes above and beyond even after we have closed on the house. Further, our neighbors genuinely like Barrett Homes (Paul in particular) and the Barrett Homes team rebuilt a neighbors fence simply bc the neighbor was an older gentlemen who mentioned that it would be nice to have a new fence. It was a simple act of kindness during the construction. Its rare to find exceptional builders who are great people - we lucked out in finding Barrett Homes.

Maureen R.

After a thorough search of both new and older properies throughout Chicago, my husband and I purchased our first home from Barrett Homes in the Southport Corridor and could not have been happier with our decision. The entire construction process was seamless and marked by clear communiction and puntuality. Upon move in, the builder's attention to detail was apparent with every aspect of the unit exceeding our expectations and allowing for a stress-free, enjoyable living experience. We feel lucky to have worked with Barrett Homes and look forward to building with them again down the road.

: R.

As a third-floor neighbor adjacent to the Barrett Homes Uptown construction debacle I feel compelled to share my experience. Let's jump into the unvarnished truth about the living conditions here, which is about as enjoyable as sitting through a timeshare presentation. Straight off the bat, the construction quality is what I'd expect from a kid's first Lego set—not a professional outfit. This isn't just poor quality; it’s an MBA case study in cutting corners.

The scaffolding incident? A literal crash course in what not to do. It took out my power—and my confidence in Barrett Homes. This isn't just a minor mishap; it's an egregious flaunting of basic safety standards. It's only by sheer luck that we're not headlining the evening news with a tragedy. If that wasn’t enough, the concrete dust makes it feel like we're living inside a vacuum cleaner bag. Barrett's response to our dust complaints is about as effective as a screen door on a submarine. They seem to think 'dust control' involves hoping it'll just blow away. News flash: it doesn’t.

Navigating around the construction is like playing a sadistic level of Tetris where every move blocks your path out. The constant blockage of access ways isn’t just an inconvenience; it's a threat to safety and sanity. Barrett seems to think that the 'right of way' is a mere suggestion.

Barrett Homes needs to take a hard look in the mirror—or perhaps a crystal ball—to see the impending disaster if they continue down this path. This isn't just about poor construction practices; it's about a fundamental disregard for the community and the environment they operate in. Time for Barrett to step up or step aside, because the residents of Buena Park/Uptown deserve better. We’re not just stakeholders; we’re living here, and this is our daily reality.