In Joliet, Illinois, the Bicentennial Bluffs Choice Neighborhood Plan serves as a roadmap for revitalizing a set of neighborhoods near downtown, including Evergreen Terrace, St. Mary’s, and St. Pat’s. Led by the City of Joliet and the Housing Authority of Joliet, the initiative is anchored by the future of Heritage Place, a public housing development that has become a focal point for broader neighborhood transformation.

Rather than focusing only on housing replacement, the Plan takes a wider view of community revitalization. Its strategies are designed to reduce concentrated poverty, preserve affordability, and encourage mixed-income and mixed-use development that can strengthen the local market over time. Through resident engagement and detailed market analysis, the planning process identified barriers to investment as well as opportunities to improve infrastructure, neighborhood amenities, safety, and access to services. Together, these efforts are intended to support a more stable and economically vibrant future for Bicentennial Bluffs.