Joliet Car Dealership Takes Shape
During the beginning months of 2017, Hawk Auto began construction on a third dealership at the corner of Route 59 and Caton Farm Road where part of Wedgewood Golf Course once stood. As the concrete structure begins to rise, public concern for the potential eyesore does as well.
In August of 2017, the Joliet Patch reported that the Joliet Park District worked out an agreement to sell close to eight acres at its 18-hole Wedgewood Golf Course. The city of Joliet land at the northwest corner of Route 59 and Caton Farm Road would later be sold to Tri-State Land Partners for approximately $4.5 million.
At the time of the purchase, the money from the real estate transaction was budgeted to help the Joliet Park District make other necessary upgrades and improvements to the golf course.
Now almost two years later, heavy machinery and construction equipment have been erecting several large concrete walls for the future dealership. This addition of a third location in the area adds to the potential for more car sales in Joliet but also comes as local residents have begun raising concerns about how the building will look upon completion.
Residents took to social media to criticize the City of Joliet’s decision to replace a large monument that once stood at the corner in order to make way for Hawk Auto. One Joliet Patch user commented on the subject saying, “They permanently ruined the looks of Wedgewood Golf Course and tore down a nice monument. [This was a] very foolish and greedy decision. That intersection is already a traffic disaster. These guys would tear down forest preserves and develop them if they could.”
Local Joliet resident Jerry Hawk also mentioned that, “Anything additional for that intersection will make it worse. It looks like crap on that corner. I am sure that Mr. Mayor is happy and the park district will be able to improve the ‘flagship’ Wedgewood.”
The dealership is projected to be completed by the end of the year.
Photo Credit: Courtesy of www.patch.com
