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.”
Amenities on the ground floor will include an indoor basketball and pickleball court, a sports lounge with a golf simulator and indoor putting green, a fitness center and yoga and Pilates studios. A rooftop sky deck will offer a resident lounge and kitchen, a bocce court, grill areas, a clubroom, a sauna and cold plunge and lap pools with retractable glass walls.
The property will also include almost 5,900 square feet of retail space, adding on to the 8,000 square feet of retail at Optima Verdana. An existing Starbucks will be incorporated into the new retail space, with dedicated outdoor seating and off-street parking.
