Soliman: Crest Hill Sells City Hall, 'It Needs To Be Demolished'

Joliet IL

11 March, 2022

5:07 PM

Description

CREST HILL, IL — Several thousand motorists drive past the giant "For Sale" signs every day at 1610 Plainfield Road. Turns out, Crest Hill has found a buyer willing to pay $1.8 million for Crest Hill's outdated City Hall property, 1610 Plainfield Road. In December, the Crest Hill City Council voted to hire Edgemark Commercial Real Estate Services from Oak Brook to assist in the sale of the current City Hall site, Crest Hill Mayor Ray Soliman informed Joliet Patch. In January, GW Properties from Chicago agreed to purchase the property for $1.8 million. Crest Hill's entire City Hall site is approximately 5 acres and consists of three lots. This month, city staff and the city attorney are drafting a sales contract between Crest Hill and GW properties, Soliman said. The contract should be presented to the Crest Hill City Council in April. The contract will have a six to nine month due diligence period before the sale takes effect, according to Soliman, who is serving his fourth term as mayor. GW Properties plan to demolish City Hall and construct new retail and commercial buildings in its place, according to Crest Hill officials. "We'd like to see some restaurants in there, naturally, and some service type of businesses," Soliman told Joliet Patch on Friday. In a statement he sent to Joliet Patch, Soliman wrote: "GW properties has an excellent reputation and a large portfolio of retail and commercial developments. They are excited to partner with the city in developing retail business that will benefit and service the citizens of Crest Hill. The traffic counts are excellent on Route 30 and Theodore (Street) which make this property a desired location for retail and commercial businesses." Crest Hill is building its new City Hall and Police Department complex. The new Crest Hill City Center is expected to be done in July or August, Soliman said. City staff and the police department won't be vacating the current building on Plainfield Road until the new City Center is done and ready for occupancy, the mayor said. The new City Hall, along with the new Crest Hill police station, will be at 20690 City Center Boulevard, which is right near the Crest Hill branch for the White Oak Library District. Soliman said Crest Hill's current City Hall building along Plainfield Road was built in the 1940s "and it needs to be demolished." Yes, there is a giant For Sale sign in front of the Crest Hill City Hall, but the property has a buyer, Mayor Ray Soliman told Joliet Patch. John Ferak/Patch Yes, there is a giant For Sale sign in front of the Crest Hill City Hall, but the property has a buyer, Mayor Ray Soliman told Joliet Patch. John Ferak/Patch