Joliet Lumberyard Up For Demolition Contract

JOLIET, IL — The Joliet City Council will vote on Tuesday night whether to approve a $97,000 demolition contract to Grosshening Inc. to raze several city-owned buildings that once served as a thriving downtown business, Lyons Lumber.

The contract before the council calls for razing 100-106 E. Washington St. According to a city memo, Joliet owns about 4.5 acres at the Lyons Lumber property, at the corner of Washington Street and York Avenue.

The land is south of the railroad tracks near Joliet's new Gateway Center Train Station.

"This property was originally purchased for the rail expansion required to accommodate future high-speed trains through Joliet," interim city manager Steve Jones wrote the council. "The property includes structures currently vacant and in a state of disrepair. As the property has deteriorated it has become a nuisance. City staff desires to demolish the buildings on the property."

Jones said the abandoned buildings continue to attract homeless people and vandals.

"Police are frequently called to the property, which is littered with trash and there is evidence of fires being started inside the buildings. Due to the proximity of the recent public and private investment in the downtown area, this site is also considered by staff to be a good candidate for future development," Jones wrote.

According to Jones, the city received the following sealed bids in May for the demolition work: Alliance Demolition $139,835 and $120,000; American Demolition $158,512; Bechstein Construction $158,385; Environmental Cleansing Corp $214,303; Gould Brothers LLC, $199,443; Green Demolition Contractors $198,800; Grosshening, Inc. $97,000; National Wrecking Company $199,500 and Pullara Inc. $142,000.