American Demolition Removes Notable Joliet Building: What Now?

JOLIET, IL — Since December, American Demolition has been busy tearing down the 1969-era Will County Courthouse at a payment of roughly $1.5 million from the Will County government coffers. As of Tuesday afternoon, the demolition work was practically done. There are only piles of rubble, large piles of concrete rubble, remaining in downtown Joliet at the site of the old Will County Courthouse.

What will happen once the remaining rubble is hauled away, has not been decided for sure. Will County Executive Jennifer Bertino-Tarrant and Joliet Mayor Terry D'Arcy have talked about teaming up to build a new government campus here. If that happens, the Will County Government Offices at the old Sears building on North Chicago Street would move here and the new campus could also function at Joliet's new City Hall.

That idea may gain steam now that the demolition work is winding down, however, elected officials for Joliet and the Will County Board would have to review and approve such a project and that has yet to happen.

There are other ideas for the old Will County Courthouse, too. One of the Will County Courthouse sheriff's deputies told Joliet Patch on Tuesday that he would like to see the county turn the ruins in a large downtown park.

A park would obviously be less expensive than building a new city-county government campus.