Wilmette officials approve downtown development
Village officials in Wilmette recently granted final approval to a North Shore developer planning to build a residential and retail project featuring 109 luxury apartments and street-level retail venues.
Developer Optima, Inc., which has locations in Glencoe and Scottsdale, Ariz., plans to break ground on the downtown Village Center project in late 2021. The site at 1210 Central Ave. will be turned into a transit-oriented development across the street from the Metra commuter train station on Green BayRoad.
“Obviously, the pandemic has been difficult for our businesses, like restaurants, retail shops, gyms and hair stylists,” said John Adler, Wilmette’s community development director.
In tough economic times, village officials see an opportunity in the new development.
“From the village’s standpoint, increasing the density downtown and throughout the village will ultimately help find a way to be able to stay a float by bringing in new residents who are loyal to their local businesses,” Adler said.
Optima CEO David C. Hovey, whose firm completed the 660-unit Optima Old Orchard Woods condominium development in 2010, said he is excited to be back in theNorth Shore.
Hovey said the final approval of theWilmette project arrives as Optima launches construction of Optima Lakeview, a mixeduse, transit-oriented development of 198 apartments and street-level retail at3460 N. Broadway in Chicago’s Lakeview neighborhood, which is scheduled to be completed in 2022.
While the Wilmette Village Board voted unanimously in late October to approve the final plan for the Optima development, the proposalwasmet with some opposition from local residents earlier this year. They expressed concerns that the building was too large, and did not follow the parameters of the village’s master plan.
But Hovey said with each project Optima designs and builds, the company is careful to ensure the buildings respect their environment and positively impact the neighborhood.
“This development will be no different, as not only will it deliver the size of homes and amenities residents inWilmette want, but the exterior design will feature our signature vertical landscaping system and public art component that will enhance the downtown community’s energy and aesthetic,” Hovey said.
As designed by Hovey, an architect, the newWilmette development will feature 109 luxury one-, two- and three-bedroom rental units and more than 8,000 square feet of commercial space at street level, along with 28 parking spaces available for public use, he said.
Select units will have private terraces, Hovey said, and the building’s residents will have access to a rooftop sky deck and pool, residential courtyard and a suite of amenities.
In addition, 173 parking spaces, including some electric vehicle charging stations, will be available for residents, and the first through third floors of the building will use use “birdfriendly” glass, Hovey said.
The development will also include an outdoor gathering area that will feature public art in the form of an 8-foot-tall sculpture created by Hovey, as well as benches so those in the neighborhood can enjoy the public space, he said.
“While we’ve long included green and sustainable features at our Chicago-area developments, theWilmette project will introduce Optima’s signature vertical landscaping to the region,” Hovey said, adding the system will include “self-containing irrigation and drainage and be complemented with hand-selected plants that will stay green year-round.”
The project will also result in a $1.6 million developer donation from Optima to be used toward establishing 14 affordable housing units, both rentals and for purchase, that will be located throughout the village, Adler said.
Demolition of the building on the site is slated for early 2021, with construction expected to begin in late fall of 2021, and completion of the development some timebetweenApril and June of 2023.