(WBBM NEWSRADIO) — An empty courthouse in downtown Joliet is on the latest list of "most endangered" historic places in Illinois.
The 1969 property near the Des Plaines River could be repurposed, but Will County officials have not shown interest, says preservation group Landmarks Illinois. Bonnie McDonald, president & CEO of the organization, said the concrete-exterior building is an excellent example of “Brutalist” architecture and is worth saving.
“The building is at risk of demolition,” she said during a webinar Wednesday.
Will County’s new, 10-story courthouse opened in 2020.
Other sites on the Landmarks Illinois endangered list include the Century & Consumers Buildings, 202-220 S. State St., in Chicago; the Eugene S. Pike House, at the southern edge of the Dan Ryan Woods; the Elks Lodge No. 64 in Rockford; and Gillson Park in Wilmette.
“These endangered sites all have historic, cultural and economic value, and we want their preservation to serve as catalysts for hope and positive change,” McDonald said in a news release.
