Joliet Hotel Faces Demolition Near Airport For New Project

JOLIET, IL — Officials with Joliet are reviewing a major redevelopment proposed near the Joliet Municipal Airport. The project calls for the demolition of the Joliet Plaza Inn & Suites at 42oo West Jefferson Street.

Joliet City Hall officials want discussion of the redevelopment project delayed until the Oct. 19 meeting of the city's zoning board of appeals. Doing to would allow for more analysis of a revised study from the Federal Aviation Administration pertaining to the proposed development, according to city reports.

According to documents sent to the city's zoning board:

Amerco Real Estate Company is the applicant wanting to purchase the Joliet Plaza Inn & Suites.

The real estate developer is seeking a special use permit to build an indoor storage facility, truck hire and sales. The developer also seeks zoning variations to construct two new main buildings on one lot and to increase the sign height and wall signage on West Jefferson Street.

Special use permits require Joliet City Council.

According to city documents:

The U-Haul Moving and Storage Facility would consist of self-storage, truck and trailer sharing rental and related retail sales. The proposed development would contain two main buildings.

The 7.5 acre property consists of about 7.5 acres currently contain a hotel use with a bar and adjacent parking.

"Development of the proposed U-Haul facility would result in a complete teardown of the hotel building, with two new main buildings that would be located on the western lot," city documents advise. "Two existing access points onto West Jefferson Street would remain in place, in addition to an existing cross access lane to the Shell gas station to the west."

As for the new construction, the easternmost building would be 39,038 square feet and contain a 3-story building that would include self-storage and retail within a showroom.

The second building would be 1-story tall, have a footprint of approximately 27,451 square feet, and be on the west side of the property. That building would be used mostly for storage.

In November 2021, Joliet Patch broke the news that nearly two years after the Joliet City Council considered taking a vote to declare the Joliet Plaza Inn & Suites a public nuisance, the current property owner has put his land for sale. A large sign in front of 4200 West Jefferson Street advises motorists the land consists of more than 7 acres. The property is zoned commercial.

Related Joliet Patch coverage:

Joliet Plaza Inn & Suites Is For Sale