Wrecking Ball Destroys St. Mary's Carmelite Church Entrance

JOLIET, IL — One of the most dramatic demolition projects taking place in Joliet continues this week in the downtown as Gould Brothers Excavation & Demolition tears down the front entrance at the old St. Mary's Carmelite Catholic Church.

The Diocese of Joliet closed the church in 1991.

In recent weeks, Gould Brothers razed the Fiat House, which served as the rectory for the priests for decades. The Fiat House was next to the church. City officials told Joliet Patch earlier this month that the current owner of St. Mary's Carmelite did not plan to tear down the church.

However, on Tuesday morning, the wrecking ball was leveling the huge concrete staircase that leads inside the church.

So far, the property owner has not submitted any formal plans to Joliet for his redevelopment plans, but there's been talk of turning the empty church into a restaurant, similar to how Baci's Pizza operated for years at the former St. Mary's Immaculate Church near the corner of Lockport Street and Route 59 in downtown Plainfield.

These days, Baci is located in Joliet on Plainfield Road.