Community Corner

Fairview Demolition Starts With Congressman Foster In Cab

Joliet Patch was on hand Saturday for the milestone event for the city of Joliet.

Joliet Patch was on hand Saturday for the milestone event for the city of Joliet.
Joliet Patch was on hand Saturday for the milestone event for the city of Joliet. (Photo by John Ferak, Joliet Patch Editor)

JOLIET, IL - On Saturday morning, Congressman Bill Foster climbed into the Omega demolition crane and he then spent about 10 minutes ripping apart one of the public housing apartments at Joliet's notoriously dangerous Fairview projects. Every single Fairview resident has moved out and the housing projects on The Hill are empty.

As a result, several Joliet area politicians gathered on Saturday to celebrate the start of demolition project.

Each politician got a crash course on how to operate the Omega company's demolition crane. They each had a chance to tear into one of the projects for several minutes.

Find out what's happening in Jolietwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Besides Foster, Joliet Mayor Bob O'Dekirk spent about five minutes ripping apart one of the apartments. Others who followed them included: Joliet City Councilwoman Bettye Gavin, Joliet Councilwoman Jan Quillman, Joliet Housing Authority Executive Director Michael Simelton, outgoing Joliet Housing Authority board member Bob Hernandez and new Joliet Housing Authority commissioner Garland Mays.

"This is a new birth for the Forest Park community, because now the area gets to grow," Gavin told Joliet Patch.

Find out what's happening in Jolietwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Several Joliet Police officers were also in attendance to mark the special event.

For decades, the Fairview projects were considered one of the most dangerous neighborhoods in all of Joliet. Fairview was typically the site of multiple murders every year and many murders go unsolved because people who may have information to help the Joliet Police don't want to be considered police snitches.

"This is a historic moment, and I'm glad to finally see the demolition of Fairview, as someone who has walked Fairview with the residents," remarked Bob Hernandez.

All told, there were nearly 170 apartment units at Fairview operated by the Joliet Housing Authority. Omega is expected to have the entire public housing complex leveled within the next 40 to 60 days.

The plan is to leave the land vacant.

Congressman Foster, City Councilwoman Bettye Gavin, Mayor O'Dekirk, City Councilwoman Jan Quillman and Julia Alexander. image via John Ferak
Image via John Ferak/Patch
Michael Simelton, at left, visits with Bob Hernandez at Saturday's mock demolition of the Fairview housing development. Image via John Ferak
Image via John Ferak/Patch

Mayor Bob O'Dekirk. Image via John Ferak/Patch


City Councilwoman Jan Quillman loved operating the demolition crane. Image via John Ferak
Image via John Ferak/Patch


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