Is JJC plan too modern for downtown Joliet?
JOLIET — Joliet Junior College unveiled plans Monday for a 10-story, modernistic building at its downtown campus. Conceptual drawings of the building were presented to the Joliet City Council, where members said they were a bit “shocked” and questioned how the structure would fit in with more traditional buildings downtown. But the council gave JJC the vote needed to acquire the old White Store building and move forward with the project. The White Store, a 19th century building preservationists wanted to save, will be torn down to make room for JJC’s plans. The new building could be as large as 150,000 square feet and is expected to cost $42 million. JJC officials said they have $15 million from a previous tax referendum and are establishing how to get the remainder of the money. Just what will be built is yet to be determined. “The college has not made any decision on what the building is going to look like,” JJC-hired architect Dominick Demonica told the city council. He stressed th
