Joliet get some high rises (Chicago, Peoria: 2011, houses, employment)

[Chicagoland60426]

Joliet a city of 145,000 receive tremendous growth from 2000-08. During that same period, Will county population went from 502,000 to 681,000 and expecting to reach the 1 million mark by 2030 or even sooner. A population growth the Midwest haven't seen in decades. So the question is why hasn't Joliet build a new high rise or two? Will County by itself already surpassed Des Moines metro.

[Opkl]

Originally Posted by Chicagoland60426

Joliet a city of 145,000 receive tremendous growth from 2000-08. During that same period, Will county population went from 502,000 to 681,000 and expecting to reach the 1 million mark by 2030 or even sooner. A population growth the Midwest haven't seen in decades. So the question is why hasn't Joliet build a new high rise or two? Will County by itself already surpassed Des Moines metro.

People don't really want to live in a high rise any more. Will County still has a lot of farm land, and it really would look weird to have a 45 story building across the street from corn fields. Now if Joliet is going to have higher density, then the building shouldn't be over 15 stories high. Just like on a game called Sim City 4, you should build out before you build up.

From reading some of your post, you like high density A LOT!! me too lol.

[Chicagoland60426]

Originally Posted by Opkl

People don't really want to live in a high rise any more. Will County still has a lot of farm land, and it really would look weird to have a 45 story building across the street from corn fields. Now if Joliet is going to have higher density, then the building shouldn't be over 15 stories high. Just like on a game called Sim City 4, you should build out before you build up.

From reading some of your post, you like high density A LOT!! me too lol.

I know Joliet is a suburb now, but in a way its a city and have an identity separated by some cornfields. You know something what Long Beach is to Los Angeles, except there are no cornfields. It doesn't have to be super tall like 45 stories. Something like what Peoria have at least. Joliet is 38 sq. miles, not that much smaller than San Francisco land area. So it wouldn't hurt Joliet to have a few high rises in its core.

Yep I love high density, one thing that seperate Chicago from most Midwest cities and one reason why I like it. I just think a city over 100,000 look more appealing with a few high rises.

[Opkl]

Originally Posted by Chicagoland60426

I know Joliet is a suburb now, but in a way its a city and have an identity separated by some cornfields. You know something what Long Beach is to Los Angeles, except there are no cornfields. It doesn't have to be super tall like 45 stories. Something like what Peoria have at least. Joliet is 38 sq. miles, not that much smaller than San Francisco land area. So it wouldn't hurt Joliet to have a few high rises in its core.

Yep I love high density, one thing that seperate Chicago from most Midwest cities and one reason why I like it. I just think a city over 100,000 look more appealing with a few high rises.

I agree. It does seem like it's own city from I-80 near the Des Plains River bridge. So higher density would be nice for it's downtown.

[IlWesleyanGuy]

Originally Posted by Opkl

I agree. It does seem like it's own city from I-80 near the Des Plains River bridge. So higher density would be nice for it's downtown.

You don't build tall buildings just so a town will have a more city/urban feeling. High rises are build when they are needed. There are few residential high rises in downtown Joliet because people don't desire to live in downtown. Downtown is progressing as is the rest of the town but there still is not enough in downtown to attract downtown living.

Also, tall buildings/skyscrapers accomodate large or high profile companies. Joliet/Will county has few of these. The area is still waiting for a Fortune 500 headquarters. Instead the area has a lot of distribution centers, warehouses, logistics parks, ect. This is an industry where there are high employment numbers.

Eventually, you'll see high rises being built in Joliet, but it takes demand and then investment. Joliet is coming around and its exciting for a resident to see it happen over the past 20 years.

The City of Joliet website has a drawing and information of what downtown joliet may look like in a few years. There are renderings of the new super regional mall that is currently being built on the website also.

[Chicagoland60426]

Originally Posted by IlWesleyanGuy

You don't build tall buildings just so a town will have a more city/urban feeling. High rises are build when they are needed. There are few residential high rises in downtown Joliet because people don't desire to live in downtown. Downtown is progressing as is the rest of the town but there still is not enough in downtown to attract downtown living.

Also, tall buildings/skyscrapers accomodate large or high profile companies. Joliet/Will county has few of these. The area is still waiting for a Fortune 500 headquarters. Instead the area has a lot of distribution centers, warehouses, logistics parks, ect. This is an industry where there are high employment numbers.

Eventually, you'll see high rises being built in Joliet, but it takes demand and then investment. Joliet is coming around and its exciting for a resident to see it happen over the past 20 years. I remember looking at this site that Joliet was planning to build a high rise a few years ago, but never started.

The City of Joliet website has a drawing and information of what downtown joliet may look like in a few years. There are renderings of the new super regional mall that is currently being built on the website also.

Joliet and the county grew 33% in the past 8 years, impressive for a city not in the sunbelt. I'm expecting Joliet to reach or surpass 200,000 within 15 years. Like you said, it will eventually get some high rises. Reason why I created this thread.

[chet everett]

Dates on "Bridge Street Town Centre" of Joliet continue to slide:

Von Maur pulls plug on plan :: Plainfield Sun :: News

Now it is "could open by 2011"...

[IlWesleyanGuy]

Originally Posted by chet everett

Dates on "Bridge Street Town Centre" of Joliet continue to slide:

Von Maur pulls plug on plan :: Plainfield Sun :: News

Now it is "could open by 2011"...

I guess by posting this you are alluding to the possibility that the project may fall through. Yeah, and if the economy takes longer to rebound than expected then it could be 2012. The dates don't continue to slide for the Bridge Street project anyway, they continue to slide for the Plainfield project. The date has been changed once for Bridge Street. When passing the site on I-55 I saw construction equipment, some moved dirt and houses finally ready for demolition. The property looked untouched until recently. I definitely think this mall will be built but how successful the mall becomes remains to be seen.

[chet everett]

Did you read the article?

Von Maur's intrest in the Plainfield project is DEAD. They still wants to be in the "Bridge Street Centre" project but that is NOW set for 2011 -- far further out than originally talked about.

[Pebbs78]

Originally Posted by Opkl

Just like on a game called Sim City 4, you should build out before you build up.

Sim City 4! Love it. Yes everyone should play that game, especially some of the alderman in Chicago.