McHenry City Council members have asked the staff asked to find economic development help for Niko Kanakaris' redevelopment of Vickie's Place, as TIF is not available for site.

McHenry will get feedback from business owners and work on signs to help direct people to available parking.

Vickie's Place on the Fox River in McHenry is closing Sunday after 40 years. But a new owner already has plans to reopen. Find out who is it.

The builders looking to renovate McHeny's First Midwest Bank into apartments will not get the $3 million in public incentives that were sought.

The Green Street Cafe's owners will rent the building from McHenry for up to a year under agreement to sell it to the city before they retire.

McHenry City Council is set to consider suggestions in downtown parking study at its Monday-night meeting.

Mayor Wayne Jett posted to a letter from Alderwoman Chris Bassi, criticizing sponsorships signs at the ice rink, to his Facebook page over the weekend.

Funds for deep dive into McHenry Recreation Center operations will come from developer park fees, could lead to future recreation bond question.

The McHenry County Board is set to vote Tuesday on a trio of solar farms, but a few board members – and nearby residents – have raised objections.

McHenry city officials say taking advantage of new property growth could allow them to raise their property tax levy while the average homeowner's portion to the city goes down.

McHenry Mayor Wayne Jett and the City Council, which recently nixed plans for a solar farm in town, is now recording its objections to another one just outside the city.

McHenry says a couple is in violation of ordinances by having emus. The residents say they've had the birds since before their land was forced to be annexed into the city, but say they'll see rather than fight the city.

Dana and Marvin Maaba raise emus for eggs on their McHenry property. But the city says their animals are not permitted now that the land has been annexed. So the Maabas say they're going to move rather than fight it.

McHenry Mayor Wayne Jett gave the City Council an update on how the 4th McHenry Music Fest went; two headliners for 2026 announced.

The Vault @ McHenry got its zoning and permits this week, but what the developer may ask for via tax increment financing is unknown

With this year's McHenry Music Festival set to kick off Sept. 12, the McHenry City Council this week gave its nod to the 2026 event - with one dissenting vote.

Citing parking and building size, the McHenry City Council this week did not show enthusiasm for a condo project proposed on the site of a longtime riverfront restaurant that's up for sale.

The McHenry City Council joined communities around the state who have voted to continued a 1% grocery tax, with one dissenting vote.

First pitched to the McHenry City Council in July, a plan for 33 apartments for downtown got the nod from the planning and zoning panel.

Two developers looking to convert old buildings in McHenry to apartments got an early nod for their plans, though a new proposal to convert one building into a community center has emerged.

McHenry residents are invited to come add their touches to a mural at McHenry Brewing Co., and on Thursday a vinyl mural designed by students at McHenry High School is also set to go up

Traffic on Green Street in McHenry will be detoured Thursday morning as McHenry Community High School District 156 upgrades the HVAC system at the Lower Campus.

The voting is now open in McHenry, as students from McHenry High School vie to have their mural printed on vinyl and installed on a downtown building.

The McHenry Music Festival, formerly the RISE Up Festival, is moving to a Friday-through-Sunday lineup with promises of a big-name act Sunday night, Mayor Wayne Jett said

McHenry has approved its 2026 budget, which includes a raise for the city manager and plans for a 1% replacement grocery tax.

Victor "Vic" Santi, who served on the McHenry City Council for 20 years, and Frank McClatchey, who has served on-and-off for 16 years, said goodbye. Santi chose not to run for and McClatchey lost reelection.

With remaining votes reported in the April 1 local election, did any results change?

Voters this week in McHenry County determined who will make the important decisions regarding their communities, schools, townships, fire departments, parks and libraries. See the results here.

Wayne Jett's first ever “Mayor’s Monthly Meetup" is set for 6 p.m. May 14 at Ye Olde Corner Tap, 3901 Main St., McHenry, part of his efforts to meet residents outside of City Council meetings

McHenry City Council candidate Bobbi Baehne proposes term limits for local elected offices, while Wayne Jett said the third term he's just won will be his last.

Prep work for the long-term Route 31 widening project is getting underway, and the city of McHenry has to figure out how much to set aside for its portion.

Several McHenry County-area mayors and village presidents faced and fended off ballot-box challenges – but not all. Here's a look at who won and lost and who got a free pass for another term.

Wayne Jett toasted what appears to be a sizable victory in Tuesday's local election for McHenry mayor. Though results remain unofficial, Jett appears to have handily won a third term, fending off a challenge by Ald. Chris Bassi, whose term on the City Council continues. Jett and his supporters celebrated at The Vixen in downtown McHenry.

McHenry Mayor Wayne Jett has declared victory at the polls Tuesday though votes are still being reported.

This spring, McHenry County voters get to decide who will make the important decisions regarding their communities, schools, townships, fire departments, parks and libraries.

McHenry's City Council wants to see options for Curran Road and Dartmoor Drive after study says a traffic light isn't warranted there.

The McHenry City Council is mulling whether to proceed with a local grocery tax with the state tax going away.

Christopher Moore: We need more single family homes, we have doubled our places that rent, apartments etc. We need to look at areas for parking and see what can be done, at times it hard to find a space.

Mark Seaquist: The city-owned land on Green Street and the Wastewater treatment plant has so much potential, really the only of its kind in McHenry County

Bobbi Baehne: Because of the historical value and importance of Landmark School to our residents, I think the city should take an active role in assisting D15 with the sale and/or redevelopment of this property.

Some McHenry restaurants will have limited music and outdoor liquor hours during ShamROCKS the Fox, March 14-16.

McHenry ordered decorative light poles set for Main Street early to get the order in before the 25% tariffs were set to start Tuesday.

Wayne Jett on his top priority for McHenry: Responsible development to meet the growing needs of our residents. It’s important to follow the comp plan while also making sure we’re not putting a large burden on our other taxing bodies in the process

Christine Bassi, candidate for McHenry Mayor: The City should be dictating to developers what the residents want, not allowing corporate landlords who overwhelming do not live in the community they develop to tell us what they think we need.

Doherty: "The Green Street site provides the opportunity for mixed use development. I would envision supporting a proposal that provides retail, residential housing and a small boutique hotel." Read the McHenry City Council candidate's full questionnaire here

McClatchey: I support well-planned multi-family developments as part of a balanced housing strategy. Read the McHenry City Council candidate's full election questionnaire here

McHenry School District 15 has begun running the legal ads needed to sell the 130-year-old Landmark School, with a bid opening date of March 3.

Development plans backed by McHenry Mayor Wayne Jett were scuttled after City Council colleagues balked. Now he's up for reelection and faces a challenge from council member Chris Bassi.

The Treehouse Play Cafe in McHenry will have a liquor license for parents while children play and during birthday parties.

Developer Redwood USA wants to build 180 rental homes off Route 120 on property that would be annexed into town.