Village trustees unanimously approved final plans for a seven-story mixed-use development at the northwest corner of Central Avenue and Green Bay Road. The current site of an International Bank of Chicago branch is located across the street from the downtown Wilmette train station.
Set to include 109 luxury apartment units and 8,000 square feet ground floor retail space, developer Optima Inc. received final approval last month to build a planned unit development at 1210 Central Ave., less than a year after filing a preliminary application. All but nine of the apartments will be located above the ground floor, while the top floor includes a roof deck and garden.
Optima CEO David Hovey, the project’s architect, contractor and developer, said he was excited to develop another project on Chicago’s North Shore.
“As with each project we design and build, we’re very careful to ensure the buildings respect their environment and have a positive impact on the surrounding neighborhood,” Hovey said in a statement.
“This development will be no different, as not only will it deliver the size of homes and amenities residents in Wilmette 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.”
Construction on the 109-unit luxury apartment building is expected to be complete in mid-2023.
Village trustees unanimously approved final plans for a seven-story mixed-use development at the northwest corner of Central Avenue and Green Bay Road. The current site of an International Bank of Chicago branch is located across the street from the downtown Wilmette train station.
Set to include 109 luxury apartment units and 8,000 square feet of ground floor retail space, developer Optima Inc. received final approval last month to build a planned unit development at 1210 Central Ave., less than a year after filing a preliminary application. All but nine of the apartments will be located above the ground floor, while the top floor will include a roof deck and garden.
Optima CEO David Hovey, the project’s architect, contractor and developer, said he was excited to develop another project on Chicago’s North Shore.
“As with each project we design and build, we’re very careful to ensure the buildings respect their environment and have a positive impact on the surrounding neighborhood,” Hovey said in a statement.
“This development will be no different, as not only will it deliver the size of homes and amenities residents in Wilmette 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’s Glencoe-based firm has built 1618 Sheridan Road in 1991, Optima Center Wilmette at 1100 Central Ave. in 1997 and Lake Courts at 1925 Lake Ave. in 1998. In 2010, Optima completed the 20-story Old Orchard Woods condominium towers overlooking the Edens Expressway and the Harms Woods Forest Preserve. According to the firm, it has completed 20 projects on the North Shore over the past four decades.
The latest Wilmette proposal first came before the village’s planning commissioners, who voted 5-2 on Feb. 4 to recommend trustees reject the project. The project was then revised with increased setbacks and added public benefits, and on March 10 the village board voted 5-2 to grant preliminary approval to the proposal. Ordinances clearing the way for the project were granted final approval unanimously at the Oct. 27 meeting of the Village Board.
The village of Wilmette, Illinois has given Optima, Inc. final approval for a mixed-use development of 109 luxury apartments and street-level retail at 1210 Central Avenue. Optima plans to break ground in late 2021 with project completion slated for 2023.
“Thanks to the support and shared vision of Wilmette’s leaders, we’re excited to be back in the North Shore developing our newest project,” said Optima CEO, David C. Hovey Sr., FAIA. In 2010, the firm completed the 660-unit Optima Old Orchard Woods condominium development in nearby Skokie, Illinois that overlooks the Harms Woods Forest Preserve and Interstate 94, one of the firm’s 20 North Shore projects.
Designed by Hovey, the new Wilmette 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. Select units will have large, private terraces. Building residents will have access to a rooftop sky deck and pool, residential courtyard, a suite of amenities and 173 parking spaces, including some electric vehicle charging stations.
Floors one through three will use bird-friendly glass. Other sustainable features include Optima’s innovative vertical landscaping system that it has perfected at its Arizona communities. The Wilmette system will include self-containing irrigation and drainage and be complemented with hand-selected plants that will stay green year-round—even during the most extreme weather conditions. Optima is committed to earning Green Globes Certification for sustainable construction practices for the building
“As with each project we design and build, we’re very careful to ensure the buildings respect their environment and have a positive impact on the surrounding neighborhood,” said Hovey. “This development will be no different, as not only will it deliver the size of homes and amenities residents in Wilmette 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 will design an original, 8-foot-tall sculpture near the building’s entry as a public art piece. Optima will also install benches near the sculpture for passers-by to enjoy the space.
The final approval of the Wilmette building comes on the heels of Optima starting construction on Optima Lakeview, its new mixed-use, transit-oriented development of 198 apartments and street-level retail at 3460 N. Broadway in Chicago’s Lakeview neighborhood, which is scheduled to be completed in 2022.
Optima Inc. has received final approval from the village of Wilmette for the development of a 109-unit luxury apartment building. The developer plans to break ground in late 2021 at the site, which is currently occupied by a bank. Designed by Hovey, the project will also include more than 8,000 square feet of commercial space on the first floor. Residents will have access to various amenities, including a rooftop sky deck and pool. Completion is scheduled for 2023.
Design-driven real estate development firm Optima, Inc. announced today its own construction team broke ground on the six-story, 100-unit Optima Verdana luxury apartment building in downtown Wilmette, Ill., on Chicago’s North Shore. The development is the firm’s second new Chicago-area retail and luxury apartment building to break ground in the last year – the 198-unit Optima Lakeview is scheduled for completion in spring 2022. Optima Verdana plans to welcome its first residents in spring 2023.
Located at the corner of Central Avenue and Green Bay Road, Optima Verdana will bring a new level of rental luxury to the North Shore. Featuring one-, two- and three-bedroom residences with an average size of 1,507 square feet, the boutique building will also feature 8,000 square feet of street-level retail.
True to its name, which is inspired by the word “verdure” meaning lush, green vegetation, Optima Verdana marks the Chicago-area debut of the latest evolution of Optima’s signature vertical landscaping system. Developed at Optima’s Arizona projects, the Verdana landscaping system has been modified to accommodate the Midwest’s four seasons. The plantings on all of Verdana’s private resident terraces will stay green year-round and be maintained by Optima’s property management team. The self-containing irrigation and drainage system promotes evaporative cooling, re-oxygenates the air, reduces dust and smog levels, decreases ambient noise and detains stormwater.
“In designing Optima Verdana, we’ve prioritized biophilic elements in a way that puts outdoor space, natural light and fresh air at the center of residents’ day-to-day lives – from our signature vertical landscaping system to spacious terraces and a landscaped courtyard,” said David Hovey Sr., FAIA, CEO of Optima, Inc. “Residents can not only immerse themselves in the outdoors from their private terrace space, but also reap benefits from its abundant greenery, which offers added privacy and an increased aesthetic value. We’ve even enhanced our commitment to sustainability by reducing our use of gas, opting for electric grills on terraces and induction cooktops in kitchens.”
Hovey noted Optima Verdana represents a 360-degree approach to sustainability. Optima Verdana will be constructed to achieve two Green Globes through the Green Globes® Building Certification, which is an alternative to LEED® certification that promotes lower energy and water bills, reduced emissions, optimized health and wellness benefits for residents, and minimizes waste. Green construction practices Optima will use to build Verdana include green concrete for the superstructure and a super energy efficient VRF heating and cooling system.
The building’s lushly landscaped private terraces will average 193 square feet, with the largest totaling nearly 1,000 square feet. In addition to enjoying a quick-heating electric grill on their terrace, residents in select homes will also have private firepits.
Sweeping views will be available on the building’s common rooftop sky deck where a range of health and wellness amenities will await residents, including: a heated, glass-enclosed lap pool with retractable glass walls that open onto the sundeck; complimentary pool towel service; a spa and sauna; barbecues; firepits and lounge areas; a party room with chef’s kitchen; residents’ club; two game rooms; and three distinct outdoor terraces, including the sundeck, garden lounge and dining area, designed for year-round use.
Indoor amenities will include a fitness center with cardio and strength-training equipment, including free weights and complimentary towel service; yoga room; Pilates studio and massage room; dual basketball/pickleball court; golf simulator and sports lounge with large screen TVs; children’s play area; pet park and spa; library lounge; and multiple work-from-home spaces, including conference rooms and a business center. Wi-Fi will run throughout amenity spaces and residents can choose from multiple data providers. Fitness programming will include yoga and meditation, Pilates, high-intensity interval training (HIIT) classes, water aerobics and personal training.
Since Optima’s founding, we have thoughtfully developed environments where nature and architecture coexist. Optima Lakeview and Optima Verdana are great representations of how we create this harmony in a multi-seasonal environment. Optima Lakeview recently had its grand opening and is now taking in-person tours of four floors of amenities, including the sky deck, and three new model residences. Optima Verdana is scheduled for completion in spring of 2023.
Optima, Inc. said Thursday its construction team has topped off Optima Verdana, a new luxury six-story, 100-unit rental apartment building at 1210 Central Ave. in Wilmette, IL, on Chicago’s North Shore. Pre-leasing will begin in early May with move-ins starting in July.
Optima Verdana will feature one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments with an average size of 1,499 square feet. The boutique building will also feature 8,000 square feet of street-level retail space, as well as a publicly accessible plaza with an original eight-foot sculpture by Optima CEO and co-founder David Hovey Sr..
“Every detail at Optima Verdana has been carefully curated – from using green concrete in the construction process to the signature vertical landscaping system,” said Hovey. “We are excited to move into the next phase of interior construction and begin pre-leasing this spring, as we’ve experienced unprecedented interest from residents on the North Shore and across the country.”
Integrated architecture and real estate development firm Optima, Inc. has announced its construction team has topped off Optima Verdana, a new luxury six-story, 100-unit rental apartment building at 1210 Central in Wilmette. Located across Green Bay Road from the Wilmette Metra commuter train station, Optima Verdana is ideally positioned for North Shore commuters, featuring 176 parking spaces, as well as electric vehicle charging stations.
With the concrete structure complete, Optima has installed the glass exterior panels on the first, second and third floors, with façade work continuing to move up the building. Aligning with Optima’s commitment to sustainability and the natural environment, the glass on the first three floors is bird-friendly, featuring a subtle pattern to help birds avoid the glass.
Optima Verdana will feature one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments with an average size of 1,499 square feet to give residents more flex space for ever-changing lifestyles. The boutique building will also feature 8,000 square feet of street-level retail space, as well as a publicly accessible plaza with an original 8-foot sculpture by Optima CEO and co-founder David Hovey Sr., FAIA.
“Every detail at Optima Verdana has been carefully curated – from using green concrete in the construction process to the signature vertical landscaping system,” said Hovey. “We are excited to move into the next phase of interior construction and begin pre-leasing this spring, as we’ve experienced unprecedented interest from residents on the North Shore and across the country.”
Inspired by the word “verdure” – meaning lush, green vegetation – Optima Verdana marks the Chicago-area debut of the latest evolution of Optima’s signature vertical landscaping system, which was developed in Arizona but modified to accommodate the Midwest’s four seasons. In what will be a first for the developer in the Chicago area, Optima Verdana plants will stay green year-round and be maintained by Optima’s property management team. The self-containing irrigation and drainage system promotes evaporative cooling, re-oxygenates the air, reduces dust and smog levels, decreases ambient noise and detains stormwater.
A massive residential development in Wilmette is nearly move-in ready.
Construction is in the final phases at Optima Verdana, a six-story, 100-unit apartment building at 1210 Central Ave. — corner of Central Avenue and Green Bay Road — and residents will begin moving in in July, according to Ali Burnham, Optima Inc.’s marketing director.
Optima Verdana is Wilmette’s tallest residential building west of Sheridan Road, and of its 100 units, 35 are two-bedroom, 35 are three-bedroom and 30 are one-bedroom apartments.
They range from 660 (1-bed) to 2,256 square feet (3-bedroom) at $2,956 to more than $12,000 (2 penthouse units, already rented) per month. Multiple variations of apartments are available within each bedroom level. Burnham said that a third of the units are already leased, leaving 77 available to prospective renters beginning on May 17.
As a condition of the project’s approval, Optima Inc. agreed to pay the Village of Wilmette $1.6 million to support affordable-housing initiatives villagewide — a payment that was executed in the fall of 2021. The funds, according to previous Record reporting, were granted to Community Partners for Affordable Housing, which believes it can turn the support into at least 15 affordable units.
Other stipulations for approval, which occurred in October 2020, included Optima’s funding of certain streetscape improvements, and its inclusion of a public plaza and public parking on site of Optima Verdana. Burnham said 29 public spaces are available near the entrance of the development’s parking garage, which also features two levels of underground tenant parking.
The building features a signature glass exterior — which uses bird-friendly, patterned glass — that will be complemented with vertical greenery as evergreen plants such as boxwoods, junipers, winter creepers and more grow into place.
Inside, Optima Verdana’s first floor includes a host of resident amenities, such as a pickleball/basketball court, golf simulator, yoga studio, fitness center, business center, dog park, and interior and exterior lounges. A skydeck — top-floor pool, spa, bocce court, herb garden and more — will be open by August, Burnham said.
A rendering of Optima Verdana as submitted by developers in 2020. | Image from Village of Wilmette
Most in-unit amenities, from stoves to outdoor grills, at Optima Verdana run on electricity. The outdoor firepit available in many units is the only gas appliance, she said.
Burnham said first-floor units will be ready for residents in July, and move-in access on subsequent floors will be available in three-week increments.
“We are very excited to open Optima Verdana this week,” said David Hovey Jr., Optima Inc.’s president, in a statement. “… We appreciate the positive feedback we already are receiving from members of the community about Optima Verdana’s design. We thank the Village trustees and staff for their vision and collaboration to bring this project to fruition.”
Optima Inc. boasts three residential complexes in Chicago and another five in Arizona, and also developed projects in Highland Park, Evanston and Skokie.
The Wilmette development also has 8,000 square feet of first-floor commercial space, which Burnham said will be occupied by one or two businesses. She said Optima is seeking a “destination restaurant” or small-item market, a strategy that aligns with the Village of Wilmette’s for the Village Center district.
WILMETTE, ILL. — Optima Inc. has begun leasing Optima Verdana, a 100-unit luxury apartment complex in the Chicago suburb of Wilmette. The community is scheduled to welcome its first residents in July and is currently more than 30 percent leased. Optima Verdana offers one-, two- and three-bedroom units as well as penthouse residences ranging in size from 660 to 2,790 square feet. Monthly rents will range from $2,950 to nearly $12,000. Optima’s CEO and founder, David Hovey Sr., designed the community.
Residents will have access to Optima’s complimentary concierge program, Optimized Service, which provides in-home package delivery, grocery delivery and plant watering. Residents can also schedule on-demand services through the Optima Verdana mobile app such as housekeeping, pet care, fitness classes, massage service and a private chef.
Optima Verdana gets its name from “verdure,” which means lush green vegetation. The community features several sustainable initiatives, including the Chicago area debut of Optima’s proprietary exterior vertical landscaping system. The self-contained irrigation and drainage system uses plants to promote evaporative cooling, reoxygenate the air, reduce dust and smog levels, decrease ambient noise and detain stormwater.
Indoor amenities at the property include a 24-hour front door person, pickleball/basketball court, fitness center, yoga room, massage room, golf simulator and sports lounge, kids’ playroom, pet park, library lounge and multiple work-from-home spaces. A seventh-floor sky deck features a glass-enclosed lap pool and spa designed for year-round use with retractable glass walls that open onto the sundeck. Residents also have access to a sauna, two herb gardens, bocce court, firepits, party room and game room.
