JOLIET —Joliet may be known by its motto “City of Champions,” but this year Joliet’s motto ought to be the City of Demolition. It seems everywhere you drive around Joliet, there’s a new demolition project getting started or finishing up.
Don’t believe me, let’s recap.
In recent weeks, the demolition of the old Will County Courthouse in downtown Joliet just wrapped up. That project began last December. Most recently, the demolition of the former Baker’s Square pie restaurant on West Jefferson Street finally happened.
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The demise of the Baker’s Square was necessary so that Starbucks can build ANOTHER Starbucks coffee house and drive-thru restaurant on the city’s busy corridor.
Other demolition projects are less noticeable but noteworthy, nonetheless.
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Gould Brothers Construction has been busy since the summer tearing down the old Our Lady Of Angels retirement home off Ingalls Avenue, near the Joliet Catholic Academy campus.
Earlier this month, Gould was hired to do an emergency demolition project at 927 Collins Street after a devastating overnight fire destroyed the former U.S. Steel mill offices, a limestone building that was listed on Joliet’s registry of historic buildings.
Where will Joliet’s next major demolition take place?
The answer is 4200 West Jefferson Street, the site of the old rundown Joliet Plaza Inn & Suites hotel. The Joliet City Council voted 8-1 in March in favor of a demolition and redevelopment for the property near the Joliet Municipal Airport.
Once the hotel is demolished and the debris is hauled away, a new U-Haul truck rental and storage facility will be built in place of the rundown hotel.
Over the past two weeks, a giant chain-link fence was erected along the perimeter of the abandoned Joliet hotel, and this is a great sign.
It means that progress is being made. It means that Joliet’s next demolition project is happening soon.
Related Joliet Patch coverage:
Joliet Plaza Inn No Longer Exists And It Looks Creepy: Photos
Joliet Man, 49, Chokes Woman Inside Joe’s Bar: Police
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