Murphy Building: One Of Joliet's Next Big Renovation Projects

JOLIET, IL — The Joliet Housing Authority continues to tackle significant projects aimed at improving quality of life for area residents. In 2017, 68 multi-family homes opened at the new Water's Edge development near McDonough Street, replacing the rundown public housing projects along Des Plaines Street. Next month, bulldozers will level the notoriously dangerous Fairview housing projects in Forest Park.

Construction of phase three for Liberty Meadows off Briggs Street is expected to begin this summer. After that, Joliet's Housing Authority will likely turn its attention to one of the more famous addresses in downtown Joliet, 311 North Ottawa St., otherwise known as the JC Murphy Building.

The 13-story structure, at the corner of Ottawa and Crowley Avenue, will be gutted and converted into 100 apartment units, available for people who are age 62 and older.

"JC Murphy will undergo a substantial renovation. All building systems will be replaced including the elevators and made compliant with local codes," a project memo reads. "New apartment units will be constructed featuring energy star rated appliances, granite counter tops, luxury vinyl plank floors, new bathrooms and kitchen cabinets."

The project is likely to get underway in 2020 or 2021.

Joliet Patch recently toured the 13-story Murphy Building with outgoing Joliet Housing Authority Commissioner Bob Hernandez and JHA building manager Veronica Rosas.

"It's going to be important for the downtown City Center and the quality of life for our residents," Hernandez told Joliet Patch.

Hernandez said all of the renovated apartment units will be available for rent to people who are at least 62 years old with mixed incomes. Presently, the Murphy high rise is split between tenants of all ages who are either on fixed incomes or are tenants on disability.

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The new and improved JC Murphy Building will also have a fitness center, media center and on-site management staff. The proposed multi-million dollar renovation project calls for new laundry rooms, new ADA accessible sidewalks, new trees and all off-street parking lots will be redone.

The project still needs formal approval from Housing and Urban Development, but Hernandez said he's confident HUD will give the thumb's up in the near future.

Hernandez explained that the Joliet Housing Authority's first HUD application for the Murphy Building renovations was turned down, but that's typical of the application process. He said that the Joliet Housing Authority's first application for Water's Edge was also turned down.

One of the biggest reasons to modernize the Murphy Building is to improve the safety and the quality of life for the residents, Hernandez said.

The current building is a haven for homeless people to seek shelter, hang out and party, Hernandez said. Some trespass by following unsuspecting tenants inside the building or by repeatedly ringing the doorbells of the apartments until someone finally lets them in, thinking it's a friend or relative.

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Hernandez said that one of the Joliet Police Department's most arrested persons, Charles Holmes, is fond of trespassing at the Murphy Building.

Hernandez said the building improvements will greatly reduce the opportunities for homeless people like Holmes to access the property.

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"With the new cameras and security system, it will be difficult for vagrants to access the building," Hernandez said.

The renovation project calls for 75 units of one bedroom and one bath and 25 units with two bedrooms and one bathroom. Many of the remodeled apartments would be rented out at market rate, Hernandez said.

When the renovations get underway in the next year or two, "The current residents will be relocated to our other buildings and given vouchers if there's not enough units available during the renovation process," Hernandez explained.

The renovation project will be a private-public partnership and all the funds used to renovate the Murphy Building will be privately funded by investors, Hernandez said.

As for leaving the Joliet Housing Authority, Hernandez said he will miss working with staff and addressing residents' concerns, but he looks forward to spending more time with his family.