13 new Third Avenue parking spots tied to saving the Barry House

A small block of downtown St. Charles is about to get new parking, and it comes out of one of the city's longest preservation fights.

The city plans to build 13 protected diagonal parking spaces on the east side of Third Avenue, between East Main Street and Cedar Avenue. It is part of the deal that kept the historic Barry House at 217 Cedar Ave. from being torn down for a parking lot.

The parking project

As part of its agreement with Baker Memorial United Methodist Church, the city agreed to design and install at least 10 parking stalls on that stretch of Third Avenue, according to a city memo. The city's consultant drew up plans for 13 diagonal spaces, which staff said gave the best balance of cost and service.

Five companies bid on the job on Sept. 18. The lowest bidder, Everlast Blacktop, withdrew, which made Acura Inc. of Bensenville the lowest responsive bidder at $237,036. The city had budgeted $250,000. Staff noted Acura recently finished a city pedestrian improvement project ahead of schedule.

The Committee of the Whole recommended the contract on Oct. 5, and it was on the Oct. 19 City Council agenda for a final vote. The city's memo says construction was expected to begin in October, with substantial completion by Nov. 20.

The money comes from the city's Central Downtown TIF district, and the spaces will be open to the public except during Sunday church service hours, Shaw Local reported.

Why it matters: the Barry House

The Barry House is a Greek Revival home that was once the residence of Judge William Barry, the first president of the Kane County Bar Association, according to the St. Charles Historic Preservation Commission as reported by Shaw Local. The house had been listed among the Most Endangered Historic Places in Illinois.

Baker Memorial Church, which bought the property in 1993, sought to tear the house down in 2017 and again in 2024. Both times, the Historic Preservation Commission and the City Council stopped it.

In February 2026, the church sold the Barry House and the neighboring property at 211-215 Cedar Ave. to Geneva Heights LLC for $525,000. The city agreed to contribute $425,000 through a tax increment financing agreement, Shaw Local reported:

• $125,000 toward buying the property.
• $50,000 to help restore the facade.
• $250,000 for the Third Avenue parking.

The new spaces also let the church sell its northern parking lot while keeping its southern lot. Under the agreement, the developers are expected to restore the Barry House to local historic preservation standards by May 1, 2027.

If you drive downtown

Expect construction on Third Avenue between Main Street and Cedar Avenue this fall. Once the spaces open, they add public parking a short walk from the shops and restaurants on East Main Street.