Historic Agreement For Old Joliet Prison Approved In 6-2 Vote

JOLIET, IL - For fifteen years, the state of Illinois let the old Joliet Prison property on Collins Street fall into disrepair while public officials around Joliet failed to recognize that the world-famous prison could become a major tourism attraction for the city. Over the past few months, Joliet Mayor Bob O'Dekirk, along with other city officials, traveled to Springfield to meet with the Department of Corrections, the long-time owners of the abandoned prison property. On Tuesday night, in a historic vote, the Joliet City Council voted 6-2 in favor of an agreement that gives the city of Joliet the use and possession of the property.

The Department of Corrections will still remain as the land owner for now.

The two council members who voted against the proposal were Pat Mudron and Larry Hug. Both men contended that the city needed more details about the agreement and they wanted more specifics about the city's potential costs for taking on the property including the security and upkeep.

Voting for the Joliet Prison redevelopment were Council members John Gerl, Terry Morris, Jan Quillman, Don "Duck" Dickinson, Bettye Gavin and Mike Turk.

Mayor Bob O'Dekirk has been a huge proponent of revitalizing the historic Joliet Prison, a limestone fortress built in 1858 and made famous by "The Blues Brothers" movie. Over the past year, arsons destroyed a couple of the old prison buildings behind the walls. The continued blight alarmed many historic preservationists who see the prison as a goldmine for Joliet. A number of other cities across the U.S. have had tremendous success in turning their old prisons into major tourist attractions.

Joliet is in a great position to market the old Joliet Prison because the city's already on the historic Route 66 corridor.

"There's private money that wants to invest in it," Mayor O'Dekirk said Tuesday night during the City Council meeting. He also said the city's elected officials owe it to the residents and property owners along Collins Street to stop letting the prison property continue to deteriorate.

If this were property at Larkin and Jefferson or on Theodore Street, the mayor questioned, would the city let the property remain an eyesore for 15 years and counting.

"I think this is a very intelligent agreement," the mayor said.

Here are several key points outlined in Tuesday's agreement adopted by Joliet:

• Joliet pays no money to the state of Illinois for leasing the old Joliet Prison site.
• Joliet can enter into agreements with so-called third parties such as the Joliet Park District or perhaps the Forest Preserve District of Will County or the Joliet Historical Museum to pursue business or recreational activities on the 170-acre facility.
• The lease is good for five years. Throughout the agreement, both sides will have an opportunity to hammer out a pact surrounding future property ownership.
• Joliet may use the existing well, pumping station and water treatment facility and incorporate that into the city's water supply.
• Joliet can make repairs to the property as it sees fit.
• Joliet will be responsible for security, maintenance and any improvements and will bear those costs.

Images via Joliet Patch Editor John Ferak