Black Road Eyesore Finally Nears Demolition

JOLIET, IL — During the past eight years, the abandoned two-story house at 1101 Black Road has become one of Joliet's most visible eyesores. The 1915-era house stands out because it's surrounded by several nice and well-kept older homes near Joliet's historic Cathedral area.

In August 2018, Joliet's City Council declared the property a public nuisance. Now, finally, there is light at the end of the tunnel for Joliet residents who want to see this unsightly house gone from the neighborhood forever.

This week, a demolition crew is parked in the front yard of the empty Black Road house. Employees from the city of Joliet's Neighborhood Services Department told Joliet Patch this week that it's their understanding the troubled house will be demolished in the near future.

During the summer of 2018, city officials told Joliet Patch that 1101 Black Road remained one of the city's most frustrating properties. A city memo at the time stated: "The entire building is in disrepair. The current owner purchased the property after a foreclosure, but has removed all of the windows and copper piping and abandoned the property. The property is also in foreclosure once again."

Now, for the good news.

This week, city neighborhood services officials told Joliet Patch that a new buyer acquired the property in recent months. The new owner intends to tear down the long-time public nuisance and construct a new house on the corner lot along Dawes Avenue, according to the city.