Boundary Justification

The Upper Bluff Historic District is a cohesive collection of late 19th and early 20th century historic properties. The northeast portion of the District from Western Avenue to Taylor Street and Wilcox Street to Center Street comprises the original 1875 plat of Glenwood Subdivision by William A. Strong. An on site review of the visual cohesion of the area was essential in determining the final boundaries. Center Street on the east was chosen as it is a state highway as well as the west boundary of the I&M Corridor study area and the west boundary of West Joliet Subdivision, an earlier development of the City of Joliet. Taylor Street, to the north, was chosen because it is the north boundary of the Glenwood Subdivision and because a major institutional land use begins across Taylor Street opposite the district. This land use is the St. Francis convent and the College of St. Francis. Raynor Avenue on the west was chosen because it is a main north-south thoroughfare and it was the western city limits through most of the period of significance of the Upper Bluff Historic District. The alley to the south side of Campbell Street was chosen on the south because the scale and integrity of the area diminishes south of that line.