128-unit Optima development is a go in Wilmette, will build next door to sister building

(Editor’s Note: This report is an overview of the project’s approval Tuesday night. A more detailed article will replace this one by Wednesday evening, Oct. 23.)

A second Optima residential building was given the green light Tuesday evening to join its sister building in the 700 block of Green Bay Road in Wilmette.

Wilmette trustees voted 6-1 in favor of the complex, which will feature more than 120 residential units across six floors. The seven-story building’s first floor will be dedicated to commercial occupants.

Trustee Gina Kennedy voted against the project, citing concerns about another large luxury building in the community, as well as specifics related to the plan’s commercial space and public benefits package.

Optima officials returned to the Village Board on Tuesday with their ninth set of plans for Optima Lumina, which will take over 721-739 Green Bay Road, the former home of Imperial Motors.

In the latest designs, Optima responded to trustee concerns by expanding and reconfiguring the public plaza between its two buildings and changing the color of the building’s terracotta exterior to a slightly darker red.

Optima also padded its public-benefit proposal by committing to funding 25 extra parking spaces and a crosswalk. The benefits package also includes a $3.8 million payment to support affordable housing in the community.

The public comment portion of the event featured more than 20 speakers, including supporters of the project, many of whom were Optima Verdana residents.

How we got here

As previously reported by The Record, Optima announced its acquisition of Imperial Motors and its intentions for a second large residential building in August 2023. Imperial Motors property is directly north of Optima’s existing six-story, 100-unit Verdana complex at 1210 Central Ave. that was approved by village officials in February of 2020 and subsequently completed in 2023. 

Plans call for Optima Lumina to include one-, two- and three-bedroom condominiums and 5,718 square feet of commercial and retail space, according to project plans submitted to the village. 

In total, Optima is proposing 128 condominium units at the site on 721-739 Green Bay Road.

Wilmette’s Appearance Review and Plan commissions each conducted multiple public reviews of the project prior to the proposal’s first appearance before trustees in September.

In late August, the Plan Commission, in a second meeting, gave the project a unanimous 6-0 vote recommending approval.

Throughout the public review, Optima has submitted new plans multiple times, continually responding to concerns and suggestions from Village officials. The version of the project that Wilmette trustees reviewed Oct. 22 was the ninth iteration.

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