McHENRY – The City Council could vote as soon as next month to spend more than a half-million dollars to buy the landmark Dobyns House property that has languished since fire destroyed the building and its restaurant occupant in 2009.

The council on Monday unanimously authorized Mayor Sue Low to “execute any and all documents including a real estate contract” to acquire the 2.62 acre property owned by the Charles J. Miller family trust.

The Dobyns House was built in 1929 at 1202 N. Riverside Drive. It was demolished after the fire that destroyed Joey T’s on the Fox restaurant, which was in business there for 10 years.