Following the full lease-up of the 100-unit Optima Verdana apartments in Wilmette, Illinois, in 2023, Optima Inc. is planning a second mixed-use project next door, this time with 128 for-sale condos, according to a news release shared with Multifamily Dive.

The Glencoe, Illinois-based real estate firm received final village board approval for Optima Lumina in late November. As part of its zoning agreement, the developer will provide $3.8 million in funding for affordable housing in Wilmette, according to the release.

The six-story tower, which will replace a long-vacant car dealership, is set to break ground in mid to late 2025, the developer told Multifamily Dive. It will be located across the street from Wilmette’s Metra rail commuter station leading into Chicago. A 75-foot public landscaped plaza with outdoor seating, public art and a fountain will separate it from Optima Verdana.

Optima, which designed Lumina in-house, sought to give it a distinct architectural language and identity from its sister property, according to the release. Its terracotta facade will be a first for the company, and the exterior will incorporate greenery along its roofline and terraces through a proprietary vertical landscaping system.

The plant species will stay green year-round and offer solar shading, noise reduction, stormwater management and privacy for residents. The property’s sustainability plan also includes 100% electric vehicle charging capacity in its parking area, variable refrigerant flow heating and cooling and induction cooktops.

Units will range from one- to three-bedrooms, up to nearly 3,000 square feet in size. While Optima’s current plan calls for condos rather than rental apartments, their status could shift based on market conditions, according to the developer. Purchase prices have not been disclosed.

“The success of Optima Verdana has demonstrated the high demand for luxury new-construction multifamily housing on the North Shore,” said David Hovey Jr., president of Optima. “Optima Lumina builds on that demand by offering the option for current residents looking to downsize from single-family homes as well as would-be North Shore buyers struggling to find a home due to the area’s low inventory of available housing.”

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Optima Communities is embarking on a 150-unit residential development in downtown Wilmette that’s nearly identical to the one next door.

Contingent upon Wilmette officials approving the development, the Glencoe-based firm will acquire the property at 721-739 Green Bay Road, formerly known as the Imperial Motors site, the North Shore Record reported.

The project, called Optima Verdana Phase 2, would feature 150 apartments, with a mix of one-, two- and three-bedroom units. It would also include commercial space on the ground floor. A Starbucks that currently operates at the site will likely remain as a tenant. Rental rates will range from nearly $3,000 to $12,000 per month.

Rising six stories and apexing at 62 feet, the design of the building shows a striking resemblance to Optima Verdana Phase 1, which was completed earlier this year. The main difference between the two buildings is that the top floors for the new building will be set back from the sidewalk “to create a tapering effect that aesthetically concludes the combined forms with a rhythmic, logical ending,” the project overview said, according to the outlet.

There was an open house at the Wilmette Public Library last night, allowing residents to engage in discussions regarding the development. Optima hasn’t officially submitted its proposal, said Wilmette village manager Mike Braiman. The developer could present its formal plans to officials by November at the earliest.

“This type of redevelopment of that site is consistent with the goals of our village center master plan, and it would be the most reasonable proposal we’ve seen to date (for that site),” Braiman told the outlet. “That said, there are going to be a lot of questions from the plan commission and village board, feedback from neighbors and the community at large.”

Rental rates for the first Optima Veranda are in the same range as the targets for the second. There are amenities such as a pickleball court, basketball court, golf simulator, yoga studio, fitness center, business center and dog park.

As part of an agreement with Wilmette, Optima paid $1.6 million to the village to support affordable housing initiatives when undertaking the first project.

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