Demolition Of Will County Courthouse Finally Arrives: Exclusive

JOLIET, IL — After efforts by downtown Joliet businessman Hudson Hollister to save the empty Will County Courthouse have failed to materialize, American Demolition began work on Monday morning demolishing Will County government's antiquated, "world's ugliest" courthouse building. The demolition project may take a few months, county employees told Joliet Patch.

This year, Joliet Patch broke the news that Joliet Mayor Terry D'Arcy and Will County Executive Jennifer Bertino-Tarrant are interested in pursuing a City of Joliet-Will County government campus on the site of the former courthouse property once all the demolition debris is removed.

D'Arcy is optimistic that the project will happen during his current four-year term in office. Last week, Bertino just announced that she is running for a second four-year term in office in next year's elections.

According to Will County Executive director of communications Michael Theodore, here are the most important details surrounding the demolition of the old courthouse:

Company Awarded Contract: American Demolition Corporation – Based out of Carol Stream

Contract Award: $1,488,600

Demolition Timeline – The demolition company will begin mobilizing this month to begin the demolition process on the four-story courthouse. The first step will include removing building systems and furniture from the building before initiating demolition. Interior demolition will begin in December.

When will residents need to be aware of increased traffic/road closures?

Demolition-related traffic is expected to be minor over the next month as the company begins the process of removing building systems and furniture from the building before initiating demolition. Increased demolition activities will likely pick up in December and early next year.

What's going to go replace it?

In June, Joliet Patch broke the news that Will County Executive Jennifer Bertino-Tarrant and her staff are working with new Joliet Mayor Terry D'Arcy and interim city manager Rod Tonelli to build a new Will County Government Campus on the site of the soon-to-be demolished old Will County Courthouse. "I definitely think it's something we have to look at," D'Arcy said of partnering with Bertino and Will County to create a Will County Government Campus in the middle of downtown Joliet. "The idea of a government campus makes sense in a growing county and community."