Abandoned Joliet Bar Faces Demolition

JOLIET, IL - It's been nearly two-and-a-half years since Joliet City Council's voted to designate a decrepit empty bar on the city's near west side as a public nuisance. On Tuesday night, the council will vote to authorize nearly $71,000 in city funds to hire a demolition contractor and also a separate crew to remove asbestos from 524 North Broadway St.

"This property is a vacant and dilapidated two-story brick building that once encompassed a bar on the first floor and apartments on the second floor," a city council memo reads. "An injunction for demolition was awarded to the city on November 29, 2017.

"Actual demolition was delayed while funds were sought for the asbestos abatement and demolition of the property," the city document states.

The low bidder for demolition work was Grosshening Inc. at $39,700. Other bids were: KLF Enterprises at $45,397, Gould Brothers LLC at $50,000, and Green Demolition at $82,000.

As far as the asbestos remediation, the city council is being asked to reject the low-bidder and spend an extra $8,410 to go with a Romeoville company.

Husar Abatement of Franklin Park was the lowest of the four bids at $22,590. "While Husar Abatement was the lowest bidder, there were defects in their bid submission," the city manager's memo states. "Further, Husar is not currently in good standing with their local. Therefore, the (city) administration recommends that the mayor and city council award the contract ... to Universal Asbestos Removal of Romeoville, IL in the amount of $31,000."

On Friday afternoon, Jeff Sterr, Joliet's Neighborhood Services Division director, told Joliet Patch at City Hall that he intends to have 524 North Broadway demolished before this year is over, provided the council approves both contracts on Tuesday night.

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