Optima Lumina^™

Optima presented our proposed plan for Optima Lumina to the Appearance Review Commission for the first time on April 30 and responded with a detailed memo addressing 8 major design comments.  On July 1 we presented our proposed plan for a second time to the Appearance Review Commission.  On July 18 we presented the PUD portion of the proposed plan to the Plan Commission.  Below is a summary of the design updates that were made in response to the comments from the hearings.

Design and Context

• The configuration of the exterior façade has been designed to distill the overall massing by incorporating distinct terracotta vertical elements separated by recesses and terraces.  These solid wall terracotta vertical elements are integrated into the building façade and extend past the roof slab acting as guardrails to the terraces above also further differentiating it from Optima Verdana.
• Optima has wrapped the terracotta panels around the corners of the building further defining the mass at the corners while still allowing the design to reflect the true material and application.
• Optima has added a metal coping edge at the base and top of the terracotta masses terminating the “middle” section of the elevation at the bottom as well as the top.
• We updated the terracotta panel reveal sizes and color to a “Chicago Brick” to relate to the context and patterns of the Village Center as demonstrated in the brick masonry buildings.
• The connection of Optima Lumina to Optima Verdana along the alley has been removed and Optima Lumina is now completely disconnected from the Verdana building.
• The landscaping planting mix now includes additional plants that grow upward and vines that grow up columns.

Traffic

• Optima created an 8’-6” wide overflow loading lane spanning from the south property line to the north loading area.  We have changed the use of that widened lane to function simply as a wider alley providing more room for pedestrians and vehicles.  A small overflow loading area will remain within the widened alley adjacent to the designated loading bays.
• Below is a summary from KLOA, the traffic engineer, regarding an additional entrance / exit in the alley:
  • The additional entrance / exit will increase conflict points for all vehicles traversing the alley.
  • KLOA has concerns with the alignment of the alley connection for the Wilmette Village Commons.
  • Providing an additional entrance further to the north would increase the travel distance vehicles will have to access Central Avenue.
  • Providing an additional entrance to the north of the existing ramp will increase the volume of traffic traversing the alley that will conflict with exiting movements from existing garage entrance.
  • The traffic report confirms that the single entrance / exit to the parking garage will adequately serve the parking functions of both Optima Verdana and Optima Lumina combined.
• Traffic will improve as a result of unobstructed site lines in and out of the parking garage single entrance/exit due to the delivery vehicle parking moving further away from the parking entrance/exit.

Height

• Optima has revised the height of the ground floor to be 13’-0” which matches the height of Optima Verdana establishing a consistent ground floor height datum along the block.
• The overall building height has increased by 1’-6” as a result of increasing the ground floor height.

Optima presented our proposed plans for Optima Lumina to the Appearance Review Commission on April 30th. Below is a summary of the significant changes we have incorporated into our design. The feedback that was common to multiple commission members is listed first and feedback that was raised by only one or two members follows.

Feedback Regarding the Massing Across the Block

• The configuration of the exterior façades has been redesigned to distill the overall massing by incorporating three distinct terracotta vertical elements separated by recesses and terraces. These solid wall terracotta vertical elements are integrated into the building facade and extend past the roof slab acting as guardrails for the terraces above also further differentiating it from Optima Verdana.
• The connection of Optima Lumina to Optima Verdana along the alley has been removed and Optima Lumina is now completely disconnected from the Verdana building.

Feedback Regarding Outward Design Context and Scale of the Village

• Per the above response the redesign of the facade also has more unified sections of terracotta that create a rhythm of opacity and transparency responding to the massing, variety, scale, and materiality.
• The terracotta has been updated with a different pattern and now extends vertically as a guardrail establishing a cap for the wall and creating guardrails for the terraces above.

Suggestion that the Architectural Character should be Different than the previous Optima Buildings

• The façade of Optima Lumina now features an exterior wall system and terracotta material that are unique to Optima’s palette and are different from any previous Optima buildings.
• The updated design also features different large terrace guardrail detailing that will have the terracotta integrated in their design by extending the wall from below into a parapet condition.
• Additionally, see responses to 1 and 2 above.

Feedback that the Plaza be Designed to Encourage Engagement with the Functions Surroundings it and make it an Inviting Space for the Public

• The public plaza along Green Bay Road has been enlarged and updated to include significant landscaping, permanent seating, public artwork, and a water feature.
• The amenity spaces of the Lumina building will continue to maintain a connection to the public plaza and will serve to further activate the space.
• Optima will also change the north wall of the Optima Veranda commercial space that is adjacent to the public plaza from a solid wall to a transparent wall with sliding doors to promote further engagement and activity in the public plaza.

Feedback that Starbucks should be Placed at the Corner of Washington and Green Bay Road

• In collaboration with Starbucks, we have designed the Starbucks to have an outdoor patio instead of the building façade at the Green Bay Road frontage specifically to promote engagement with pedestrians and encourage connectivity at the streetscape and adjacent train station.
• The proposed parking area has a one-way flow of traffic reducing the congestion that occurs in the current configuration.

Feedback about Further Encouraging Pedestrian Activity along Green Bay Road

• The design has been updated with recessed outdoor seating at the retail which draws further interest to the commercial space and compliments the positive streetscape design features such as the recessed building entry, covered outdoor seating at Starbucks, and the aforementioned enhancements
  to the public plaza.
• This creates several pockets of interest for pedestrians to experience along Green Bay Road.

Feedback regarding Single Entrance/Exit to the Garage, Alley Traffic, and Loading

• Below is a summary from KLOA, the traffic engineer, regarding an additional entrance / exit in the alley:
  • The additional entrance / exit will increase conflict points for all vehicles traversing the alley.
  • KLOA has concerns with the alignment of the alley connection for the Wilmette Village Commons.
  • Providing an additional entrance further to the north would increase the travel distance vehicles will have to access Central Avenue.
  • Providing an additional entrance to the north of the existing ramp will increase the volume of traffic traversing the alley that will conflict with exiting movements from existing garage entrance.
• The traffic report confirms that the single entrance / exit to the parking garage will adequately serve the parking functions of both Optima Verdana and Optima Lumina combined.
• Traffic will improve as a result of unobstructed site lines in and out of the parking garage single entrance/exit due to the delivery vehicle parking moving further away from the parking entrance/exit.

Feedback regarding “Base-Middle & Top” as required the Design Guidelines

• The base of the Lumina building is recessed from the main residential façade above and is treated with more transparent materials. This treatment correlates to different functions at grade level such as amenities, and retail which help to activate the streetscape. It is also practical to provide shading and cover for public spaces at grade.
• The top floor of the Lumina building is set back from the primary facade to respond to the scale of the surrounding buildings in the village. The setbacks at the upper floor and main roofline provide opportunity for lush landscaping including full size trees providing the cap to the overall building that will meet the sky and provide a more natural transition.

Located adjacent to Optima Verdana on Green Bay Road, this site is specifically identified as a “redevelopment opportunity site” in the Wilmette Village Center Master Plan. Our proposal for Optima Lumina has undergone seven (7) significant design revisions since September 2023. It is comprised of approximately 128 luxury one, two, and three-bedroom condominium residences* and an additional 5,576 GSF of destination commercial space. The configuration of the Optima Lumina exterior façades has been redesigned to distill the overall massing by incorporating three (3) distinct terracotta vertical elements separated by recesses and terraces. These solid vertical terracotta elements are integrated into the building façade and extend past the roof slab acting as guardrails for the terraces above also further differentiating it from Optima Verdana. The connection of Lumina to Verdana along the alley has been removed and Optima Lumina is now completely disconnected from Optima Verdana. The vibrant sustainable architecture incorporates terracotta, a building material that has been used for over a century, that covers 65% of the exterior façade. The project is designed to provide high quality housing and commercial space that will further enhance the vitality of the center of the Village of Wilmette.

The building is designed with a 75′-0″ wide and 92′-0″ public plaza at grade level between Verdana and Lumina creating a combined open space of approximately 9,529 SF. This open space consists of an approximately 6,690 SF open plaza with public art and landscaping, with the remainder dedicated to private outdoor dining and landscaping for high-end destination retail and commercial along Green Bay Road. Additionally there is private outdoor dining and public landscaping at the corner of Green Bay Road and Washington Avenue with the relocation of the existing Starbucks. The atmosphere created by the architecture, landscaping, and open space will ensure pleasant surroundings at the plaza to engage the community. The enhancement of the streetscape and the addition of the plaza have been designed to align with the Village Center Master Plan goals. Above the plaza, 63′-0″ wide openings between facing terraces and a 40′-0″ opening between the buildings creates additional separation.

Optima Lumina is designed to step back on the upper floors along Washington Avenue, at the entire 6th floor along Green Bay Road, and at the entire 6th floor along the alley. Consistent with Verdana, Lumina will feature the signature Optima Vertical Landscaping SystemTM with coniferous planting providing year-round greenery. Strategically located private terraces provide visual interest to the undulating façade on all sides of the building.

Lumina will include approximately 30,000 sf of amenity space located at grade level and on the roof. The roof is designed with a sky deck, glass-enclosed heated pool, spa, cold plunge, year-round steam room & sauna, outdoor firepits, barbecues, seating areas, perimeter plantings and sheltering arbors, a residents’ club and party room with chef’s kitchen, games, bocce court, conference rooms, and business center. Level 1 features a spacious lobby, library lounge, as well as a management office. A fitness center that looks out over the courtyard will include an indoor pickleball/basketball court, strength and aerobic training equipment, a yoga studio, a Pilates studio, golf simulator and sports lounge. A massage room, kids’ playroom, and pet spa will round out the amenities at grade level.

The immediate adjacency of the site of Optima Verdana enables us to efficiently and logically incorporate the design and also infrastructure established in the existing Optima Verdana. The ability to share physical facilities such as access to the underground garage creates an efficiency in the development of the project. Further, shared branding and operations by Optima will deliver the same elevated experience within the Village of Wilmette.

“Optima Lumina is now designed as a unique stand alone building adjacent to Optima Verdana. The use of terracotta, a traditional building material, provides a rich natural color and is incorporated into the structure of the building with a state of the art window wall system. Optima Lumina is designed to step back on levels four and five at the corner of Green Bay Road and Washington Avenue to create a tapering effect on the north side of the building and will appear to have a continuous roofline at level five with levels six and seven set back out of sight. The recessed balconies give residents fresh air and open space. Also included at Optima Lumina, is our Signature Vertical Landscaping SystemTM. The open plaza between the two buildings is meant to be a public punctuation point that will provide the public with a sheltered courtyard and enliven the streetscape by drawing customers to the provided retail.” – David Hovey, Sr. FAIA and David C. Hovey, Jr., AIA

With corporate offices in Glencoe and Scottsdale, Optima has a long history of developing in Wilmette beginning with 1618 Sheridan Rd. in 1991, Optima Center Wilmette in 1997, and Lake Courts in 1998, and most recently Optima Verdana.

*Optima Lumina is now intended to be a Condominium Development. Optima reserves the right to build condominiums or apartments allowing for flexibility depending on market conditions.

The schedule for the meetings and hearings of this Application for Planned Unit development will be determined by the Village of Wilmette. This formal zoning process began with our Pre-Application Submission and meetings with Village staff and will continue with meetings with Village staff, our voluntary presentation of the project to the Appearance Review Commission, Housing Commission Meeting, and hearings before both the Plan Commission and the Village Board of Trustees. Notices of public hearings will be sent to owners and occupants within 250′-0″ of the site and will be published, all in accordance with the Village’s zoning ordinance, as well as being posted on our project website (learnaboutoptimalumina.com). The Optima Lumina informational website is live and includes a link to this submission and future submissions, timeline and schedule updates, as well as future neighborhood outreach events.

Optima started the neighborhood outreach process on August 31st by holding an Open House at the Wilmette Public Library. Notices for that Open House were sent to residences in the immediate vicinity of the site. Also, a local news article appeared in The Record North Shore informing people of the Open House, and 49 people attended. At the meeting there were several requests for more neighborhood outreach events Optima responded with additional open house meetings so that we could continue to create a dialogue with the community, hear concerns firsthand and respond as appropriate. Since August, Optima will have held nine (9) open houses on the project on the following dates: August 31st, December 12th, December 13th, January 3rd, January 4th, April 24th, April 25th, and July 10 in the afternoon and evening.

Anticipated Schedule

• June – September 2023: Extensive Design Work, Feasibility Research, and Preliminary Coordination with the Village.
• August 31, 2023: Neighborhood Outreach Open House at the Wilmette Public Library (49 people attended)
• September 14, 2023: Pre-Application Submission
• November 20, 2023: Application for Planned Unit Development Including Submission of Preliminary Plan
• December 12 & 13, 2023: Neighborhood Outreach Open House at the Lawn at Wilmette Golf Club (22 people attended)
• January 3 & 4, 2023: Neighborhood Outreach Open House at the Lawn at Wilmette Golf Club (20 people attended)
• January 11, 2024: Appearance Review Commission Hearing (Postponed)
• April 24 & 25, 2024: Neighborhood Outreach Open House – Location TBD
• April 30, 2024: Appearing Review Commission Hearing
• May 9, 2024: Housing Commission Meeting
• July 10, 2024 Afternoon: Neighborhood Outreach Open House at the Lawn at Wilmette Golf Club
• July 10, 2024 Evening: Neighborhood Outreach Open House at the Lawn at Wilmette Golf Club
• July 18, 2024: Plan Commission Hearing 1
• August 20, 2024: Plan Commission Hearing 2 (Vote with 7 Members).
• TBD: Village Board of Trustees Hearing(s)

Residential Homes

• Lot size: 1.56 acres
• Reduced the number of residential homes to from 150 to 128
• Reduced to 82.05 Units/Acre

Optima Lumina^™ is now intended to be a Condominium Development. Optima^® reserves the right to build condominiums or apartments allowing for flexibility depending on market conditions.

Building Heights and Roof Stepbacks
Optima Lumina™ has been designed with a series of step backs that occur on all exterior elevations as outlined below for Green Bay Road, the alley, and Washington Avenue with more substantial setbacks than Optima Verdana^®. The ground floor height of Optima Lumina is 13′-0″ and matches the ground floor height of Optima Verdana.

Glass and Glazing

• The building has been reduced to 63% opaque and 37% glass.
• Glass has been updated to a gray

Open Space

• The massing for Optima Lumina is now completely separated from Optima Verdana
• Public plaza increased in size and features public amenities such as a water feature, permanent seating, public art, and more significant landscaping.

Commercial Space

• Optima Verdana^® total: 8,113 GSF
• Optima Lumina^™ total: 5,576 GSF
• Total: 13,689 GSF

Terracotta System

• The configuration of the exterior façades has been redesigned to distill the overall massing by incorporating three distinct terracotta vertical elements separated by recesses and terraces. These solid wall terracotta vertical elements are integrated into the building facade and extend past the roof slab acting as guardrails for the terraces above also further differentiating it from Optima Verdana.
• Exterior terracotta reduces the visibility into the residences and enhances the appearance of the building with traditional materials and additional shading and shadow lines.
• The terracotta also enhance the bird collision deterrence features of the building and are located on floors 1 through 6.

Parking
100% residential and public underground parking
Eight (8) sheltered surface level parking spots for Starbucks off Washington Avenue

Stormwater Management
The site design addresses stormwater management strategies that will lessen the storm surge volume during rain events on the Village of Wilmette’s storm/sewer water system. Optima Lumina™ proposal will collect stormwater on-site in a detention tank designed to allow the control of water volume released into the storm/sewer water system. This allows for more effective management of water volumes that are sent down stream, and reduces the impact caused by the Imperial Motors site on the Village’s storm/sewer water system.

Optima Lumina^™

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