We saw a semi-significant uptick in local housing market activity month over month, going from 55 home sales in February to 65 in March.

Two of those Geneva home sales — one for $80K and one for $50K — seemed unusual, with the same name listed among buyers and sellers for each. I’ve removed those from the following data to avoid skewing the results.

For those counting, that’s a 17.6% increase in selling prices month over month. Small sample size, but certainly interesting as we continue to track this in future months.

Here are the home sales for the week ending March 30.

These are three of the most expensive homes currently for sale in the Tri-Cities:

Last week, we asked TCC readers about the best time to give kids smartphones without heavy restrictions or oversight. The results were decidedly mixed:

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☑️ Serious accident: A car crash in Sugar Grove late last week left a 20-year-old Geneva woman with traumatic injuries and a 19-year-old from Batavia with minor injuries. The Kane County Sheriff’s Office says it will provide updates.

☑️ Eastward expansion: Geneva is holding a special City Council meeting tonight to consider the establishment of a new TIF district that supports its Southeast Master Plan and initiates the public review process for the project.

🔒 Campaign focus: Tom Connelly, the former alderman and current Meyers & Flowers attorney who is running for Batavia Mayor, say’s he’ll prioritize downtown development to encourage economic growth.

☑️ Year in review: The Batavia Police Department’s 2023 Annual Report — which includes accomplishments, activities and a recap of crimes/accidents reported — is now available.

🔒 Significant shift: Voting numbers and primary ballot requests suggest that Kane County has transitioned from a one-time Republican stronghold to a Democratic-leaning county.

☑️ Court appearance: The Elburn veterinarian accused of child porn charges pled not guilty, but was ordered to remain in custody.

Remember late last summer when local activists were protesting the destruction of centuries-old oak trees in Geneva Township?

That project is entering its next phase. Geneva’s Planning and Zoning Commission will conduct a public hearing at 7PM on Thursday at City Hall regarding the MIF Geneva Park development.

The meeting will allow members of the public to present testimony and question witnesses for or against Midwest Industrial Fund’s (MIF) petition to annex 225 acres between Route 38 and Kautz Road and rezone it for light industrial development.

The two proposed development plans (primary plan and alternate plan) would result in between 2.1 and 2.5 million square feet of warehouse space on the property.

☑️ Flood of appreciation: The Kane County Regional Office of Education received a record number of submissions for its Educator of the Year award, which will be presented during a banquet in St. Charles on May 3.

☑️ Awards dinner: Registration is open for the Batavia Chamber’s annual “Inspire” event, which celebrates the 2023 Batavia Citizens of the Year and recognizes local businesses and individuals.

☑️ Volunteers needed: Give back on Earth Day by helping the Kane County Forest Preserve plant hundreds of bur oak trees at Elburn Forest Preserve.

☑️ Art acquisition: The Batavia Fine Arts Centre is encouraging local artists to submit proposals for their artwork to be purchased for permanent inclusion in their collection.

🔒 Construction coming soon: An intergovernmental agreement between St. Charles, Geneva and the state paves the way for a project to reconstruct a 1.5-mile stretch of Kautz Road.

☑️ City Council meetings: Watch the full videos from the recent April 1 council meetings —> Batavia | Geneva | St. Charles

We’ve got a solid mix of performances to look forward to this week, including two special events tomorrow night: A Rising Light Project fundraiser at Preservation and a live Dennis O’Brien Band concert at The Wine Exchange (which will also be live-streamed here).

🔒 A unique concept: Get an inside look at Rock ‘N Ravioli, a new music-themed, history-inspired restaurant expected to open in St. Charles’ Arcada Theatre complex this month.

☑️ Discover new skills: Batavia’s Start Something Studio is launching a weekly lunch n’ learn series to help residents benefit from the expertise of local business experts. The first session is today!

☑️ Podcast ep: The latest Area Code: Batavia conversation centers around Bocaditos Argentinian cafe and the experiences of co-founder Juliana Cancelo.

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☑️ Special Dennis O’Brien Band Concert | Tuesday, 6:30PM | The Wine Exchange, STC | Make a reservation to see the popular local band live and dine from a delicious small plate menu.

🎟️ Area Code Batavia LIVE Podcast | Thursday, 7-9PM | Sturdy Shelter, Batavia | See host Richard Clark interview Frank, Diane and Oliver of Sturdy Shelter Brewing live and in person.

🎟️ AfterImage Film Festival | Thurs-Sun | Charlestowne Theatre, STC | Celebrate independent film and view several features through the weekend.

🎟️ The Monster: A Frankenstein Tale | Fri-Sat, 7:30PM | Batavia Fine Arts Centre | BHS Drama’s premiere of this new spin on the old tale promises surprises at every turn.

🌤️ Today: High 69F | Low 45F | Objectively gorgeous

⛅ Tuesday: High 66F | Low 40F | Possible shower

⛅ Wednesday: High 65F | Low 46F | Warm n’ cloudy

🌨️ Thursday: High 55F | Low 41F | Chilly + raw

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