The City of Joliet and the Housing Authority of Joliet are in the process of creating the Bicentennial Bluffs Transformation Plan, which is a proposed comprehensive neighborhood revitalization strategy program.
Once Borderless Studio completes the comprehensive neighborhood revitalization plan with assistance from the community, it will create new affordable housing, preserve housing in the surrounding neighborhood and develop a mixed-use and mixed-income community, which reduces the concentration of poverty, according to program guidelines.
The Choice Neighborhoods Initiative grant application targets the distressed 356-unit public housing development of Riverwalk Homes and the 170-unit public housing development of Heritage Place apartments, both operated by the Housing Authority of Joliet.
The Bicentennial Bluffs Neighborhood is bounded by Theodore Street on the north, Raynor Street on the west, Collins Street on the east and McDonough Street on the south.
In other city council news, the council approved the final planned unit development of Prairie Landing subdivision which will be built on land partly owned by Mayor Terry D’Arcy.
To avoid conflict of interest, D’Arcy recused himself on voting for the residential development, as well as left the room when the public addressed the proposal.
D’Arcy is part owner of land builder DR Horton who wants to build 120 homes on 44 acres. The vacant land is at 2200 Essington Road, which is next to the D’Arcy Motors car dealership in Joliet. DR Horton is looking to construct homes as part of the Prairie Landing subdivision.
During the public comments portion of the meeting, some of the residents nearby the project wanted to preserve the land and plant as many trees as possible on it.
“Nobody likes change as change is tough for many people,” said councilman-at-large Joe Clement. “Residents sometimes feel you are not being heard, but this could have been warehouses or apartments. This is best use for this property.”
