community Archives

Highlights Near Optima Verdana®: Green Bay Trail

Posted on September 20, 2023 by Hunter

For Optima Verdana® residents who have a penchant for outdoor activities and scenic views, the Green Bay Trail is a must-visit. This 9-mile asphalt and crushed stone trail runs parallel with Chicago’s Metra commuter rail line and weaves through Kenilworth, Winnetka, and Highland Park. Flanked by eateries, shops, parks, and stunning residences, the trail offers a unique blend of nature and urban vibes for bikers and hikers alike!

What’s especially captivating about the Green Bay Trail is its heritage. It stands on what was once the route of the former Chicago, North Shore & Milwaukee electric railroad. Following its path, visitors are essentially retracing the steps of history from downtown Wilmette to Highland Park. Beyond being a route for history buffs, the Trail also provides families with even the youngest of riders a leisurely day out.

While daily commuters use Green Bay Trail to reach Metra stations, tourists and locals frequent it for recreational purposes to access Starting from Wilmette, you might be immediately captivated by the pristine beachfront atmosphere, juxtaposed beautifully with bustling business districts. And if approaching Highland Park on an early summer evening, you might get a glimpse of the euphoric energy emanating from Ravinia®, one of the region’s most celebrated music venues.

Green Bay Trail. Photo Credit: Illinois Bone and Joint Institute

For those looking to extend the adventure, at the Braeside Metra Station, the trail offers a gateway to the Chicago Botanical Gardens via the North Branch Trail. And for those who conclude their journey at the St. John’s Avenue trailhead, they’ll find a slew of amenities like restrooms, playgrounds, and parks, courtesy of the adjacent rail line.

Living at Optima Verdana® isn’t just about unrivaled luxury; it’s about experiencing the richness of the community and embracing the outdoors. So, dive deep into history, bask in nature, or simply hit the Green Bay Trail for an invigorating walk or relaxing ride. No matter the season, weather or time of day, new experiences await each and every time.

Exploring The Oak Park Conservatory

Posted on September 18, 2023 by Hunter

We’re always on the lookout for treasured locales to share with our residents, and today, we’ve struck botanical gold. Allow us to introduce you to the Oak Park Conservatory, a lush oasis that’s steeped in history and teeming with life.

Established in 1914, the Oak Park Conservatory has deep roots, beginning as a modest municipal greenhouse. Over the decades, it has grown both in size and reputation, securing its place as one of the premier historical conservatories in the U.S. What makes this conservatory genuinely enchanting, however, isn’t just its venerable age but the myriad plants in its diverse collection.

Step inside, and you’re immediately transported across varied climates. The Tropical Room surrounds you with the sights and sounds of a vibrant jungle, where banana trees graze the ceiling, and orchids display their intricate beauty. There’s also the Mediterranean Room, a warm escape filled with olive trees and fragrant herbs, evoking images of sunlit European coastlines. For those fascinated by resilient plant species, the Desert Room offers a captivating exploration of cacti and succulents, each telling tales of survival in some of the planet’s harshest terrains.

But the Oak Park Conservatory is more than a visual treat. It’s a hub for education and inspiration. For those with green thumbs or even just a touch of plant curiosity, the conservatory hosts workshops and programs throughout the year, ensuring every visit offers something new and enlightening.

Conservation remains at the heart of the conservatory’s mission. Alongside showcasing the beauty of the plant kingdom, it’s dedicated to the preservation of endangered plant species. By emphasizing sustainable gardening practices, the conservatory underscores the vital relationship we share with our environment.

Desert Room. Photo: Park District of Oak Park

While the interior rooms captivate the senses, the conservatory’s outdoor demonstration gardens shouldn’t be overlooked. These plots are more than just pretty spaces; they serve as living examples of sustainable gardening practices, providing invaluable insights for enthusiasts and casual gardeners alike.

The Friends of the Oak Park Conservatory (FOPCON) plays an integral role in the conservatory’s success and vibrancy. This dedicated non-profit organization tirelessly supports the conservatory, championing its value through fundraising, education, and community programs. So, whether you’re a seasoned botanist, a gardening novice, or someone seeking a serene escape, the conservatory promises a journey of discovery. Embrace its rich history, marvel at the beauty of nature, and leave with a renewed appreciation for the botanical world.

Noble-Seymour-Crippen House – Chicago’s Oldest Existing Building

Posted on September 11, 2023 by Hunter

Optima® is always thrilled to illuminate the quiet corners that resonate with historical depth. One such gem, tucked away in the Norwood Park neighborhood, is the Noble-Seymour-Crippen House. More than a mere building, this house is a piece of Chicago’s history, a testament to its rich past and the dreams of its earliest settlers.

The Noble-Seymour-Crippen House, with roots tracing back to 1833, is not only older than the City of Chicago itself but also stands as its oldest existing house. Its age, however, isn’t the only characteristic that makes this house noteworthy. Every brick, beam, window and wall, tells a tale of the city’s journey and the individuals who crafted its narrative.

The residence, initially a modest one-story frame farmhouse, was the brainchild of settler and entrepreneur Mark Noble. However, as Chicago burgeoned, so did the house’s grandeur.

By 1868, Thomas Seymour, its new owner, and a prominent member of Chicago’s Board of Trade, transformed it into a sprawling two-story Victorian haven.

Margaret Crippen’s Bedroom. Photo: Norwood Park Historical Society

Yet, the true distinction of the Noble-Seymour-Crippen House lies in its ties to the city’s pioneers: Mark Noble, Thomas Seymour, and the later contributions of the Crippen family. Each influenced Chicago’s burgeoning tapestry. Their legacies, encapsulated within the house’s walls, serve as a living testament to their contributions.

The house, designated a Chicago Landmark in 1987, is the proud home of the Norwood Park Historical Society, where visitors can go on a historical odyssey through Chicago’s early epochs. Its woodwork, decorative elements, and aura transport you back in time, providing a tangible connection to the city’s origins.

For those who enjoy exploration, the Noble-Seymour-Crippen House isn’t merely a landmark; it serves as a journey, a step back in time during the city’s formative years. As we revel in the grand architectural marvels of today, places like this remind us of our city’s foundation. Next time you find yourself longing for a touch of historical elegance, visit the house, and immerse yourself in another page of Chicago’s vibrant story.

Wilmette Spotlight: Wilmette Historical Museum

Posted on September 7, 2023 by Hunter

We believe in grounding our cutting-edge architectural designs in the rich tapestry of history. Which is why we’re always eager to introduce our residents to landmarks that echo the past and cast their influence on modern design. One such treasure nestled in the heart of Wilmette and near Optima Verdana® is the Wilmette Historical Museum.

The Wilmette Historical Museum is more than a mere repository of artifacts and old photographs. It’s another page in the Wilmette village’s history, inviting its visitors to walk through time. Housed in a charming, vintage 1896 building, the museum itself stands as a testament to the architectural prowess of a bygone era. With its Victorian elegance juxtaposed against the modernity of Wilmette’s streetscape, the museum offers a tangible link between past and present.

Upon entering, you’re welcomed by a rich collection of exhibits, each meticulously curated as a panorama of Wilmette’s evolution. From its indigenous origins, through its growth spurred by the railroads, to its transformation into a modern suburb, the museum narrates tales that inspire admiration for those who shaped this beautiful village.

What sets the Wilmette Historical Museum apart is its unique perspective on architecture and urban planning. The exhibits delve into the minds of the architects, town planners, and everyday citizens who dreamed of a thriving, harmonious community. Through sketches, blueprints, and firsthand accounts, the museum provides a deep dive into the principles that influenced Wilmette’s development.

Wilmette Historical Museum Interior, Photo Credit to Wilmette Historical Museum

In the heart of it all is a lesson on balance. How a village, rich in heritage, managed to integrate modernity without sacrificing its soul. How town planners and architects worked in tandem, ensuring that each brick laid or tree planted resonated with Wilmette’s overarching vision.

For our residents with an appreciation for the deep roots from which our contemporary residences spring, a visit to the Wilmette Historical Museum promises a rewarding experience! They’re open Monday-Thursday and Sunday from 1pm-4:30pm.

Garden of the Phoenix in Jackson Park

Posted on August 28, 2023 by Nancy

At Optima®, we relish the opportunity to immerse our residents in experiences enriched by cultural discovery and aesthetic delight…which is exactly what you can expect when you wander through a captivating wonder nestled in the heart of Chicago – the Garden of the Phoenix.

Situated within the lush expanses of Jackson Park, the Garden of the Phoenix, once known as the Osaka Garden, gracefully expresses the timeless allure of traditional Japanese aesthetics. With a history that dates back to the World’s Columbian Exposition in 1893, it stands as a picturesque landscape on its own, while also serving as the canvas for cross-cultural dialogue between Japan and the United States.

As global nations joined the Exposition, Japan, in particular, sought to cast an enduring impression in Chicago. And with the inception of the Phoenix Pavillion between 1891-93, the U.S. received its first glimpse of the refined nature of Japanese architecture and landscape design. It even drew the attention of a young Frank Lloyd Wright and served as a revelation in his practice.

In 1935, the land surrounding the Phoenix Pavilion was transformed into a picturesque Japanese strolling garden that harmoniously blended with its surrounding environment. However, the escalating tensions between Japan and the U.S. during World War II took a toll on the garden, which fell into disrepair for decades due to a lack of funding. In 1981, the Chicago Park District completed efforts to restore and reimagine the garden, working with luminary landscape architect Daneji Domoto. Once the work was completed, the garden was renamed ‘Osaka Garden’ to honor Chicago’s sister city relationship with Osaka, Japan, strengthening this unique cross-cultural bridge.

Over the past several decades the garden has enjoyed waves of transformation. In 2013, the garden welcomed a new resident, Skylanding, a mesmerizing art installation by Yoko Ono. With 12 large steel lotus petals rising from the earth, Ono’s vision of peace and harmony came alive, inviting visitors into a unique, multi-sensory encounter.

Yoko Ono's Skylanding — Yoko Ono’s Skylanding sculpture, Jackson Park. Photo: Richard Bartlaga

Today, the Garden of the Phoenix breathes harmony and balance within the energetic pulse of Jackson Park and will be home to the Obama Library. As a symbol of rejuvenation, resilience, and enduring friendship, the garden offers a cherished sanctuary within Chicago’s vibrant cityscape.

Returning to Oak Park: The Wright House

Posted on July 31, 2023July 31, 2023 by Nancy

When we think of groundbreaking architectural marvels that have shaped modern architecture, one name invariably stands out and is someone we’ve covered before — Frank Lloyd Wright. Wright’s innovative designs and his unique ability to harmonize architecture with its natural surroundings has left an indelible imprint on our architectural landscape. Optima® is always delighted to spotlight such inspirational landmarks, and as a result, today we turn our attention to a home that was both his creative laboratory and personal residence, the illustrious Wright House in Oak Park.

Just a few miles west from Optima Signature® in the tranquil, leafy Oak Park neighborhood, the Wright House stands as a living testament to Wright’s architectural prowess and visionary genius. Built in 1889 and later expanded in 1895, the Wright House is where the iconic architect began to hone his distinct Prairie Style — an architectural movement characterized by horizontal lines, flat roofs, and structures that seemed to blend seamlessly with their surroundings.

The exterior of the Wright House is deceivingly simple, a classic embodiment of Wright’s “form follows function” ethos. But it is in the heart of the house, in its interiors, where Wright’s architectural brilliance truly unfolds. The interior spaces exhibit an open floor plan, a then-revolutionary concept that challenged the compartmentalized Victorian architecture norms of the era.

A walk through the home reveals rooms with geometric patterns, intricate woodwork, and natural materials — a signature of Wright’s style. Spaces flow seamlessly into one another, bounded not by walls, but by subtle changes in design and level. One of the house’s most stunning features is the playroom, added during the 1895 expansion. A capacious, light-filled room with vaulted ceilings and a central fireplace, the playroom perfectly illustrates Wright’s ability to design spaces that both foster intimacy and embrace community.

The Wright House is not merely a house; it is a dynamic portrait of Wright’s evolving style and an architectural time capsule preserving the genesis of the Prairie Style that Wright would later perfect. For the 20 years that Wright resided there, it was an experimental platform for his pioneering ideas, and an enduring beacon of his design principles.

As we continue to celebrate the architectural wonders that enrich our world, we’re thrilled to honor the Wright House in Oak Park — a jewel in the crown of American architecture. It stands as a symbol of Wright’s legacy, a shrine to the ideals of organic architecture, and a monument to the innovative spirit that fuels progress.

Unearthing the Desert’s Splendor at the Desert Botanical Garden

Posted on July 24, 2023 by Hunter

At Optima®, we’re always excited to spotlight spaces that celebrate the captivating beauty of nature while enriching our communities. Today, we venture to the sun-drenched landscapes of Phoenix, home to the remarkable Desert Botanical Garden. This natural wonder encapsulates the magic of the desert, bursting with over 50,000 desert plants across its sprawling 140-acre expanse.

Founded in 1939, the Desert Botanical Garden has curated an outdoor gallery that beautifully showcases desert plants’ resilience and diversity. From towering saguaro cacti to delicate desert wildflowers, each exhibit is a testament to the rich biodiversity that thrives in the seemingly harsh conditions of the desert.

The garden is more than just a collection of desert flora; it’s a living, breathing embodiment of the Sonoran Desert’s essence. It presents a series of trails such as the Desert Discovery Loop Trail and the Sonoran Desert Nature Loop Trail, each unfolding a unique story of desert life. As you walk these trails, you’ll find yourself immersed in an incredible mosaic of desert beauty.

Sonoran Desert Nature Walk Trails in Phoenix. Photo: Desert Botanical Garden

But the marvel doesn’t end with its spectacular plant life. The Desert Botanical Garden is also an active hub for research and conservation. It is deeply committed to protecting the desert’s natural splendor, ensuring that future generations will be able to marvel at these landscapes just as we do today.

Beyond the exploration of desert life, the garden hosts an array of vibrant events and exhibitions. From awe-inspiring art installations to engaging educational programs for adults and children, the Desert Botanical Garden pulses with an energy that extends beyond its plant life. There’s always something to delight in, learn from, and explore.

Ottosen Entry Garden. Photo: Bill Timmerman and Adam Rodriguez

Visitors are also greeted by the striking Ottosen Entry Garden. This architectural delight, inspired by desert patterns and interspersed with bold plant colors, sets the tone for an immersive desert exploration. It’s a testament to how architecture can meld seamlessly with nature, creating a grand entry into the desert’s heart.

As we at Optima® celebrate the places that elevate our appreciation for the natural world, the Desert Botanical Garden stands as a magnificent testament to the desert’s allure. It challenges the perception of deserts as lifeless terrains, instead revealing an ecosystem brimming with life, beauty, and countless stories waiting to be discovered. The garden invites us all to step into the desert landscape, uncovering the rich, abundant life that flourishes under the Arizona sun.

The Oak Circle Historic District

Posted on March 6, 2023March 6, 2023 by Hunter

How A 156 Year-Old Chicago Suburb Withstood The Test of Time

Nestled in a corner of Wilmette, IL the 156-year old suburb north of Chicago and located on the Lake Michigan shore, stands the Oak Circle Historic District. It is a small grouping of 15 early twentieth-century houses. Each built primarily in the Craftsmen style with magnificent detailing from the Prairie School of Architecture, both which were born from the Arts and Crafts movement.

Amazingly, the original integrity of 14 of the houses have survived the onslaught of time, enabling them to join the National Register of Historic Places in 2001.

Walking through the peace and tranquility of the Oak Circle Historic District leaves one bewildered of how graceful the path is. The curvature of the street adds considerable charm and status to Wilmette’s signature brick-paved streets. Venturing deeper, the houses reveal themselves — similar in style while each remains wonderfully and amazingly varied. The Prairie style motifs unabashedly present themselves from one home to the next — horizontal planes, leaded glass windows, the use of brick and wood — all coexisting in aesthetic harmony.

Red vitrified brick. Photo: Historic Pavements

Twelve of the houses on Oak Circle are bungalows, the house type most closely associated with the Arts and Crafts Movement in America. The bungalows, along with the other homes on the block, showcase a variety of features found in Craftsman architecture, as well as the distinctive bands of windows with geometric patterns of small-pane glazing associated with the Prairie style.

The 12 bungalows also exhibit a variety of floor plans. Some are one-story, some one-and-a-half, but no two are exactly alike. True to the Arts and Crafts ideal of being close to nature, the bungalows share a distinctive horizontal emphasis in tandem with the midwestern landscape.

Oak Circle is a treasure trove of sights waiting to be explored. Just only blocks away from the Wilmette public library and a 7-minute walk from Optima Verdana®, it’s a delightful architectural and historical landmark with boundless charm that reminds both residents and visitors why Wilmette remains a vibrant, delightful community!

Arizona Mid-Century Modern Architecture

Posted on March 3, 2023March 6, 2023 by Hunter

For those who are always on the hunt for vestiges of mid-century modernism, you’ll have some happy surprises right in Optima®’s own backyard — in Scottsdale. Here you’ll discover a history that is rich in architectural heft, including wholly-intact examples from the city’s 1950s community, where some of the finest mid-century modern structures remain.

Striking examples of mid-century modernity can be seen in Scottsdale’s commercial buildings scattered across the city, alongside several repurposed pubs and restaurants. Architectural gems can also be found in older neighborhoods. Especially those that were built by Ralph Haver. A local architect who utilized walls of glass, low-pitched roofs, and angled porch posts all packaged within a modestly-sized home.

Ralph Haver home. Photo: Leland Gebhardt

And don’t miss another example of impeccably-renovated mid-century vernacular in the sleek Hotel Valley Ho. The hotel boasts façades of glass and concrete panels that express arrowhead motifs. Opened in 1956, it was largely a getaway for a number of Hollywood stars. Zsa Zsa Gabor rode horses there. Natalie Wood and Robert Wagner had their wedding reception in the hotel ballroom. And Jimmy Durante used to play piano late at night in the lobby.

The Arizona Biltmore, a 39-acre resort not far down the road, is another example of the city’s architectural history. The Biltmore is often identified as a Frank Lloyd Wright building, but it was actually designed in collaboration with Albert Chase McArthur, a protege of the great master.

The nearly century-old hotel: Arizona Biltmore. Photo: Werner Segarra

The Biltmore has the dramatic presence of a large-scale Wright building, and is one of only 13 structures that Wright designed and in the area. His students, on the other hand, were involved with many others. For Wright acolytes, any visit to the Phoenix area begins with his winter residence and headquarters, Taliesin West. Now home to the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation and the Frank Lloyd Wright School of Architecture, and located on the edge of the McDowell Mountains outside of Scottsdale. Which also happens to be where our most recent architectural development will be situated — Optima McDowell Mountain Village — Wright passed on his genius to an entire generation of eager architects such as Blaine Drake, Vern Swaback, and Heloise Crista.

No survey of mid-century modernist architecture is complete without the David and Gladys Wright House. David was one of Wright’s eight children, and the house the elder Wright designed for him was based on a rising spiral (also the design for New York’s Guggenheim Museum) while remaining imaginative and human in scale. The spiral lifts the living quarters above the treetops so that anyone in the house has access to carefully framed panoramic views of the mountains in the distance, and spaces that flow organically and wonderfully into one another.

It’s always a pleasure to connect our “Forever Modern” mantra at Optima® with the broad, deep mid-century modern legacy that lives on in the communities where we work and build!

Megan Hernandez Team Member Spotlight

Posted on February 15, 2023 by Hunter

At Optima®, our communities would not thrive without the outstanding work from our spirited team of individuals. We recently sat down with Megan Hernandez, People Experience Generalist at Optima, to discuss why she loves being part of such a passionate team and what she has learned throughout her experience here:

Tell us a bit about your background and the role you play at Optima.

My background is in human resources and administration. I spent some time applying this skill set in the finance industry and also worked in the city election space before coming to Optima. At Optima, I’m the People Experience Generalist based in Arizona. An interesting fact is that I lived in Chicago for my whole life before moving to Arizona, so I was able to also meet the Illinois-based team before moving to the Southwest. And now that I’m in Arizona, I am responsible for providing enhanced, more tangible support for our growing number of employees here, focusing on benefits, hiring, employee engagement and other fun things like that.

What drew you to Optima initially, and what’s kept you working there?

I was inspired to take my position at Optima in large part because of the great things I heard from Lisa Lowenthal, our People Experience Director. She went into detail about how Optima truly cares about its employees. I then did my research on the company, studied their history, learned about current projects and plans for the future, and came to understand their involvement in the community. Everything I learned excited me. When I was still living in downtown Chicago, I’d visited Optima Signature. At the time, I was in awe with everything the building offered and the quality of life for its residents, without even realizing it was an Optima property! That was a great discovery and connection to make after the fact, and further reinforced my great admiration for the company and its people.

I would say the people here keep me motivated and make me feel grounded. There’s a team atmosphere that makes me and everyone here feel welcomed, accepted and part of something.

How do you view the concept of community at Optima? How does it differ from other properties/buildings?

When I think of community at Optima, the first things that come to mind are connection and collaboration. To me, the concept of community at Optima means working together to create and cultivate that connection with other people and our surroundings. I would say that’s true for the Optima team internally but also for the people that we serve, the residents.

We have an understanding that community impacts how we live and how we work. In some ways, the team’s always connected with each other and the residents, and just by doing our part, we’re making a difference and creating an experience for those residents. I’ll also say that community means being able to collaborate and share ideas with people from all parts of the process, whether that be People Experience working with Marketing or working with Property Management, it’s a collaborative culture, and we’re able to touch different parts of the process.

I would say our concept of community is unique because we deliver a first-rate quality of life to residents and to people who work here by creating more than just individual living spaces. We create an environment that encourages you to be present in the moment and stop to marvel at what’s around you. I think that sets us apart from other buildings. And I’ll also say that as a People Experience team member, Optima is full of people that make you feel welcome, and that genuinely want you to have a great experience.

Optima has a unique set of values that differentiates it from other company cultures. How does that affect the quality of your work life? What values matter most to you?

Building strong, lasting relationships comes to mind first. To me, building strong relationships empowers us to be our most authentic selves and gives us the space and insight to support each other. Relationships and a healthy community are the foundation of the great team culture at Optima. We strive to bring out the best in each other on a day-to-day basis and invest in bettering ourselves, in the growth of others on the team, and even in the residents.

I would say I enjoy spending time on our various properties, which allows me to see and experience the connection that these teams have created with the residents. It’s beautiful and unique to Optima. I work at the Camelview Village office, which is close to Sonoran Village, and then Kierland is just right up the road. So I’ve spent some time at all of our different communities, and every time I go, I’m encouraged to go back and spend more time with the team and the people there.

One other value that sticks out to me is that we all create. While People Experience might not be the first team you would necessarily think of as a very creative role, I can say first-hand that it is, because we are encouraged to bring fresh thinking into everything we do.

What are some of the things you have learned in your time at Optima?

The phrase, ‘you learn something new every day’ is so fitting. One major thing that comes to mind is that the mainstream or standard way of doing things is not always the best way. Optima is vertically integrated, meaning that we control all aspects of our process, and I think that’s a wonderful example of learning new things. I’ve seen in real-time how our model creates a cycle of improvement and encourages communication. One team may see an opportunity for improvement, and they’re able to bring that to other teams, which can spark a discussion, large or small, that can make a positive change. It’s more than just finishing one project and moving on to the next, it’s a cycle of learning and bringing that knowledge with you to the future.

What makes you most proud to be a part of the Optima team?

I would say working at Optima, I’m proud to be part of something that strives for quality and isn’t afraid to set the bar high. I think it’s amazing to be part of a team that takes agency in what we’re doing, from the gorgeous designs to the top-tier resident experiences to the impeccable craftsmanship of our builders. Optima is full of people who want to help in any way that we can however we can, and that mindset is something I can connect with and be proud of.

Are there any upcoming Optima projects, experiences, etc. that you are most excited about looking at the year ahead?

I’m especially excited to be a part of our growth with Optima Verdana opening in Wilmette this year and construction starting on Optima McDowell Mountain Village in Scottsdale, because my job is helping bring fantastic team members into our Optima family.

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Tag: community