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📸 Credit: Haines on Main
A 160-year-old house on Main Street in St. Charles is almost ready to embark on its next chapter.
Haines on Main, the gathering space business Julie and Martin Starck are building out of a historic home at 521 W. Main St., plans to open to the public in early December. Renovations are underway, and a $30,000 city grant is expected to help complete the next phase.
The house was built in 1866 by Charles Haines, a former St. Charles mayor and school board member who left about $100,000 to the local school district when he died (according to the Haines on Main website).
Here's what to know:
City grant: The St. Charles Committee of the Whole voted on Sept. 21 to recommend a $30,000 Business Improvement Grant for the project. The program reimburses businesses for up to half the cost of certain building upgrades. The money will go toward ADA-accessible restrooms, a fire sprinkler system, and a fire alarm.
Room to grow: The owners expect to put about $1.7 million into renovations overall. The current phase includes an addition to the house with a gathering room and fireplace. It also includes an outdoor garden and patio space with a fountain and pergola that can be booked for events.
Built for giving back: Julie Starck said her vision for the space came into focus after she nearly lost her son to substance use disorder. The Starcks have also been hosting nonprofit gatherings for free. A portion of proceeds from future events will support groups that help people affected by addiction, plus local nonprofits like CASA Kane County and Lazarus House.
A hub for PAL: Starck started the Tri-Cities area's first chapter of Parents of Addicted Loved Ones (PAL), a support group for parents of adult children struggling with addiction, which meets every Wednesday at the house. Contact Julie here if you’re interested in learning more or attending a session.
Before the doors officially open, you can stop by the house during the Electric Christmas Parade on Nov. 28, where the Starcks will run a hot cocoa stand.
They have already starting accepting 2027 bookings for showers, intimate weddings, birthdays, corporate gatherings, and community events.
Learn more on their website.
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