Innovation Pavilion Project A Huge Hit With Joliet City Council

JOLIET, IL - When a high-profile development lands in front of City Hall, some members of the Joliet City Council tend to get an earful from their constituents. Oftentimes, it's lots of criticism. But that was not true at Monday's pre-council meeting when the city discussed the ambitious redevelopment plans being floated by Innovation Pavilion chief executive officer Vic Ahmed. His suburban Denver investment firm wants to open a first-of-its kind innovation campus in downtown Joliet.

"It's exciting from the vision we have for our downtown," said Joliet City Councilwoman Bettye Gavin. "Your concept is awesome."

City Councilman Don "Duck" Dickinson said: "All I've heard is nothing but praise for this project ... I hope it happens."

From councilwoman Jan Quillman: "It is certainly cutting edge. I'm very impressed with it."

The council's response was so favorable that city economic development director Steve Jones remarked afterward that the Innovation Pavilion development agreements that are part of the regular agenda for Tuesday's 6:30 p.m. Joliet City Council meeting appear certain to receive council approval.

Monday's question-and-answer session included a PowerPoint presentation from Ahmed. He said that Joliet's approval of the development agreement, along with the city's financial and land acquisition incentives, were necessary for Ahmed's company to enlist other corporate business partners to come on board.

Ahmed's goal is to transform downtown Joliet's into a destination for millennials. His project calls for construction of upscale housing geared for millennials, creation of additional retail and corporate offices that to make the downtown a haven for young professionals pursuing technology-oriented career paths.

Ahmed told the council that the housing units could be around 450 to 500 square feet apiece. He also explained that millennials tend to spend their money dining out and on entertainment. As a result, downtown Joliet's millennial housing campus would likely include TV rooms, swimming pools, space for outdoor barbeques and social interactions.

"It's really cool," Ahmed said, "but they are affordable."

Quillman asked Ahmed why Joliet, of all places, was chosen for his next venture? He's already opened one innovation campus in Centennial, Colorado and has plans to open additional campuses in the fall of 2018 in Parker, Colorado and in Olathe, Kansas.

Ahmed said he was attracted to the "Chicago metro area," but wanted to end up in a vibrant, growing city that has the ability to forge a public-private partnership to make his project work. We are not going to set up an operation in Chicago," he explained.

Joliet, he said, offered great transportation access and infrastructure. Most importantly, politicians and city officials exhibited a strong enthusiasm toward Innovation Pavilion's concept, he said. The Innovation Pavilion millennial campus aims to create a theme of "live, work and play" for downtown Joliet.

Joliet has offered Innovation Pavilion city-owned land at no cost and up to $200,000 to defray the project's engineering designs and architectural costs. The city funds, however, are contingent upon Innovation Pavilion filing a building permit with the city.

The two sites under review are in different spots within the downtown. One property is north of the Harrah's Joliet Casino Hotel along the Des Plaines River. The other spot, dubbed the Washington Street campus, is closer to Joliet Central High School and the old Lyons Lumber property.

After Monday's meeting, Jones said he hopes the Colorado investment group settles on the site near the old lumberyard rather than near Harrah's.

"It's the bigger site, and it's close to public transportation, and the library and the high school and the whole heart of the downtown," Jones said.

To learn more about Innovation Pavilion, visit here.

Image of Vic Ahmed, CEO of Innovation Pavilion, via Joliet Patch Editor John Ferak