Joliet is the site of a modern day renaissance. Once an industrial city, the community has reinvented itself as a tourist destination with a robust and diversified economy. Joliet is the county seat of Will County, Illinois, situated southwest of Chicago on the leading edge of the metropolitan area. Joliet is less than an hour from downtown Chicago by car or commuter rail.

During the late 1980’s, the City of Joliet developed a downtown revitalization strategy to take advantage of its riverfront location and existing investments in the city center. The resulting Joliet City Center Development Plan was designed to take advantage of the area’s existing physical assets. These assets include the Bicentennial Park on the canal/riverfront, and architecturally and historically significant structures such as the Rialto Square Theater. The Plan articulated the need for a major downtown entertainment attraction, common streetscapes throughout the area, and visible gateways into the city center.

An expanding local economy and attractive riverfront locations underscore the potential for downtown residential development. A recent study indicates that the Joliet City Center residential market could support 1,100 new housing units'. Local officials are currently marketing prime City Center property for residential development.