The Bicentennial Bluffs (BB) is one of Joliet’s most diverse neighborhoods, home to a higher concentration of Black and Hispanic/Latino households than other areas of the city. 

 

Spanning over 760 acres, the Bicentennial Bluffs neighborhood includes key anchors such as Riverwalk Homes, St. Mary’s, St. Patrick’s, and Downtown Joliet, positioning it as a strategic area for aligning local revitalization with broader citywide goals.

 

Located on Joliet’s west side along the Des Plaines River, the Evergreen Terrace area is a community shaped by resilience in the face of economic and social challenges stemming from the city’s post-industrial era. Anchored by Riverwalk Homes and Heritage Place, two long standing public housing complexes, the neighborhood is entering a time of transition and opportunity.

 

The relocation of residents poses a critical moment in the history of the neighborhood that holds the potential for renewed investment and development, greater support, and a more equitable future for this historically underserved community and the city of Joliet as a whole.

 

The Public Housing target site is Heritage Place Apartments, which includes 170 units that will be the focus of this grant. This housing complex is located in the Evergreen Terrace area.