Welcome to Tri-Cities Central, a twice-weekly newsletter highlighting local happenings in Batavia, Geneva, St. Charles and surrounding communities.
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Affordability in the Tri-Cities
Affordability has become a hot topic in American life — housing costs, general cost of living, the accessibility of a middle class lifestyle.
It’s a conversation folks across the Tri-Cities are having as well. We haven't done a reader poll in a while, so here's a good one. Feel free to add a comment with your response — I'll report back next week with some of the more interesting findings.
In your opinion, how is the cost of living trending in the Tri-Cities?
SPONSORED CONTENT
🎙️ Chris Wallace has a new show with a local focus
Chris Wallace: You know him and love him as the Tri-Cities real estate expert whose informative, entertaining videos we feature in this newsletter every couple of weeks.
Now he's launched a video podcast, and episode one features Sarah Whitt, the single mom who built House of 423 from a Batavia boutique into a thriving women's fashion destination in Geneva.
She keeps it real — so if you've ever wondered what goes on behind the counter at a place like House of 423 (or just appreciate a good female entrepreneurship story) this one's worth your time.
☑️ Potential traffic fix: St. Charles officials are exploring a planning contract to study safety and street improvements along the busy Riverside Avenue corridor, where cyclists and cars have faced challenges coexisting near the Fox River Trail.
☑️ Ready for disaster: Kane County is building a disaster preparedness network and wants local nonprofits, businesses, and community groups to work together on a collaborative approach before the next emergency hits.
☑️ Elburn's growth plan: The Village of Elburn has adopted its 2026-2029 strategic plan, with top priorities including Route 47 safety improvements, water and sewer upgrades, and attracting new businesses — all guided by a philosophy it describes as "better not bigger."
☑️ Solar project update: Kane County officials approved the Route 25 community solar project on the former Tri-County Landfill in St. Charles Township, but construction still can't begin until the developer and Waste Management finalize a formal agreement.
☑️ Watch your utility bill: Some residents in the region have been unknowingly switched to alternative energy suppliers charging two to three times ComEd's rates — and lawmakers are now pushing legislation to put a stop to the practice.
☑️ Spring cleanup: Geneva is offering free yard waste pickup during the weeks of March 16 and 23 — no sticker needed, just set out brown paper bags on your regular collection day.