GLENCOE, IL - Right on time to meet the increase in demand for elevated apartment living on Chicago’s North Shore, design-driven real estate development firm Optima, Inc. today announced the opening of its on-site leasing gallery at Optima Verdana®, the company’s latest luxury rental community located in downtown Wilmette, Ill. Optima Verdana®’s leasing gallery at 1210 Central Ave. is now open for private appointments. The community will welcome its first residents in July, and is already over 30% leased before opening its doors to walk-ins and prospective residents on May 17.
Optima Verdana comprises 100 thoughtfully designed, one-, two-, three-bedroom and penthouse residences ranging in size from 660 to 2,790 square feet with monthly rents ranging from $2,950 to nearly $12,000. Designed by Optima® CEO and Founder David Hovey Sr., FAIA, the building boasts striking contemporary design, extensive amenities and abundant greenery, which sets the property apart from anything else offered on the North Shore.
“There is a major trend at play with those looking to downsize from their single-family homes in favor of the luxury and convenience of the Optima® rental lifestyle,” said Hovey. “We’re excited to be able to offer prospective residents a chance to enjoy the community’s unmatched location, services and amenities, and to be able to meet the pent-up demand for large, well-appointed apartment homes.”
Offered in two distinctive finish packages, the residences feature floor-to-ceiling windows outfitted with roller shades; 10” luxury plank flooring throughout; chef-inspired kitchens with Fisher & Paykel appliances and Kohler fixtures; custom built-in storage throughout; wine fridges; spacious pantries; and bathrooms with free-standing soaking tubs and separate water closets across most floor plans. Private residential terraces available in most homes range from 65 to 931 square feet in size and include firepits and quick-heating electric grills in select residences.
The elevated living experience at Optima Verdana extends beyond the design and finishes of this community to include an extraordinary service experience for residents. All residents will enjoy the experience of Optima’s complimentary concierge program, Optimized Service®, which includes white-glove, in-home package delivery, grocery delivery and plant watering. Residents can also easily schedule on-demand services through the Optima Verdana® mobile app, such as housekeeping, pet care, virtual personal assistant, fitness classes, private chef, on-site massage service and more. In addition, Optima Connect® enhances residents’ lives by offering exclusive discounts for area restaurants and retailers.
Optima Verdana® also raises the bar when it comes to green features and biophilic thinking. The community gets its name from “verdure” – meaning lush green vegetation – and incorporates the latest sustainable technology such as green concrete and bird-friendly glass. Optima Verdana® will achieve Two Green Globes certification through the use of sustainable VRF heating and cooling systems, eco-friendly induction cooktops, and outdoor electric grills to further reduce gas emissions. Optima Verdana® features the Chicago-region debut of Optima®’s proprietary exterior vertical landscaping system. Pioneered at the firm’s Arizona projects, the self-contained irrigation and drainage system has been modified to suit Chicago’s four-season climate and remain green year-round. In addition to providing residents with a connection to nature, the plantings promote evaporative cooling, re-oxygenate the air, reduce dust and smog levels, decrease ambient noise and detain stormwater.
“Optima Verdana® prioritizes residents’ access to lush greenery, outdoor space, natural light and fresh air,” said Hovey. “This interplay between the natural elements and architecture creates a unique experience that infuses nature into all aspects of residents’ life and represents a commitment to sustainability and resident wellness.”
Indoor amenities include a 24-hour front door person; pickleball/basketball court; fitness center with cardio and strength-training equipment, plus free weights with complimentary towel service; a yoga room; massage room; golf simulator and sports lounge; kids’ playroom; pet park and spa; library lounge; and multiple work-from-home spaces, including conference rooms and a business center. Fitness programming will include yoga and mindfulness, Pilates, high-intensity interval training classes, water aerobics and personal training.
A seventh-floor sky deck, which will open this summer, offers a range of health and wellness amenities including a heated, glass-enclosed lap pool and spa designed for year-round use with retractable glass walls that open onto the sundeck; complimentary pool towel service; a sauna; barbecue grills; two herb gardens; a bocce court; firepits and lounge areas; a party room with chef’s kitchen; residents’ club; and game room.
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.
A publicly accessible plaza at the southeast corner of Optima Verdana® is home to a recently installed eight-foot original sculpture by David Hovey Sr. titled Curves and Voids. Hovey’s art has been featured prominently at Optima®’s communities since he began working with steel to create sculptural pieces that complement Optima®’s architectural spaces.
About Optima, Inc.: Optima, Inc. is a privately held, design-driven real estate development firm with offices in Illinois and Arizona. For more than 40 years, Optima® has been developing, designing, building, marketing and managing striking urban and suburban luxury residential communities. From the beginning, Optima® aimed to reinvent housing by integrating the functions involved in new construction within one company. Optima® controls and executes every aspect of the process in-house – development, design, construction, sales and management – for a dynamic system that offers greater focus and fluidity. Optima® is committed to delivering extraordinary living through design, innovation, sustainability and management. The result has been the creation of over 40 communities in Arizona and Illinois, along with being nationally recognized with over 100 prestigious awards. In 2021, Optima® was named AIA Chicago Firm of the Year as well as a Crain's Best Places to Work for the second year in a row.