Bays Pitches $4 Million Upgrade To Catholic Charities Building

JOLIET, IL - John Bays, a prominent commercial developer who has been involved in several of Joliet's biggest real estate ventures, should find out this week if the Joliet City Council supports his latest project. On Tuesday, the council could vote on a TIF development agreement with John Bays Enterprises for his downtown property at 201-203 Ottawa Street. It's known as the Catholic Charities Building. The meeting begins at 6:30 p.m. and city officials are recommending approval of the TIF.

Bays aims to attract a big-name restaurant that will entice people to drive a considerable distance to dine here on weekends. Downtown Joliet already features a number of sit-down restaurants including Juliet's and Tin Roof Joliet and the newest venture is the MyGrain Brewing Company in the historic Union Station. With downtown Joliet on the upswing, Bays believes he can land a major draw restaurant that stands to be an asset to Mayor Bob O'Dekirk's ongoing efforts to revitalize downtown Joliet.

A memo in the Joliet City Council agenda packet includes an itemized breakdown from Bays reflecting that his improvements to the Catholic Charities Building will cost around $4 million.

When it comes to Joliet's downtown, Bays has a reputation for being a doer, not a talker.

Bays turned the once vacant Kline's building into the Bays Professional Centre. One of his tenants is The Forge, live music, food and spirits. The Forge has been a huge hit since it opened this year.

About a year ago, Bays bought the three-story Catholic Charities Building at the corner of Cass and Ottawa Streets.

"At this time, only the second and third floors of the structure are occupied with Catholic Charities continuing to maintain an office presence as a tenant," stated Marty Shanahan, interim city manager/corporation counsel.

Since Bays bought the downtown building, Shanahan pointed out, the Joliet businessman has made improvements to the building's façade and upgraded its parking lot. As it stands, the first floor has been cleared out for lease. "The owner's intent ... consists of three future phases including demolition and renovation of the first floor for restaurant/commercial uses; renovation of the basement for commercial use; and renovation of 5,000 square feet of the second floor to shrink the Catholic Charities office footprint to attract a new commercial tenant to the building," Shanahan informed the city council.

Joliet's proposed TIF for Bays' property lays out several rigid guidelines. The council memo indicates that Bays shall have his redevelopment of 201-203 North Ottawa Street completed no later than June 30, 2021. A TIF agreement is a way of subsidizing improvements in a specific area by having a municipality pay for the work upfront and then be reimbursed by the increased taxes generated by the improved district.

"Redevelopment of the property shall not be considered complete until a Certificate of Occupancy is issued for the first floor and lower level area of the building," the city memo states.

The proposed TIF also ensures that Bays does not try to hoodwink the city.

"Unless approved by the corporate authorities of the city, no portion of the project shall at any time be used for the operation of a sexually oriented business, a payday loan facility, a currency exchange, a second hand goods dealer or a business that is engaged in the purchase of previously owned gold and gold jewelry, unless such purchases are incidental to the operation of a retail jewelry store on the property," the city memo states.

Images via Joliet Patch Editor John Ferak