Optima, Inc. announced the start of condominium sales for Optima Lumina, its highly anticipated luxury condominium community in the heart of downtown Wilmette, Illinois, on Chicago’s North Shore.
Located at the corner of Green Bay Road and Washington Avenue, directly across from Wilmette’s Metra commuter rail station, Optima Lumina introduces 133 for-sale residences, approximately 5,900 square feet of retail space, a publicly accessible plaza and unrivaled resident amenities to one of Chicago’s most walkable and sought-after suburban village centers.
The launch of sales builds on the success of neighboring Optima Verdana, the firm’s luxury rental community that welcomed residents in 2023 and is now fully leased with a substantial waitlist. Optima Lumina offers buyers the opportunity to own within the same vibrant mixed-use district while enjoying elevated finishes, expanded customization opportunities and spacious condominium floor plans.
Pricing for one-bedroom residences is anticipated to begin in the $595,000s, with two-bedroom residences starting in the $895,000s, three-bedroom residences beginning in the $1.99 million range and four-bedroom residences priced from $4.59 million. Buyers seeking larger custom homes may combine multiple residences to create floor plans uniquely their own.
“Optima Lumina is unlike anything currently available on the North Shore,” said David Hovey Jr., AIA, president of Optima. “We continue to see strong demand for luxury new-construction condominiums from buyers seeking exceptional design, walkability, amenities and a sense of community. Optima Lumina builds upon what residents love about Optima Verdana while introducing larger homes with premium finishes and extensive customization opportunities that let buyers create residences tailored to their lifestyle.”
Among the community’s most distinctive offerings are five “duplex-down” residences that combine at-grade and below-grade living spaces connected by interior staircases and illuminated by light wells that bring natural light into the lower level. Designed to offer the privacy and comfort often associated with a single-family home, the residences provide direct access to their designated indoor parking spaces at Lumina. Select ground-floor residences will also feature expansive private courtyards that extend the living space outdoors.
The ability for buyers to combine multiple residences before construction begins is unique among North Shore condominium communities of this scale and allows purchasers to connect residences horizontally, vertically or both to create expansive custom homes designed around their specific needs. Owners can even combine the building’s duplex residences with homes above or adjacent, potentially creating three- and four-level custom residences.
The Optima Lumina sales gallery features a design center that allows prospective buyers to explore floor plans, finishes and personalized design opportunities by working directly with Optima’s in-house architects and design professionals.
Optima’s design team has developed a collection of pre-designed combination residence concepts to inspire buyers and show what is possible at Lumina. The largest of these inspirational plans exceeds 5,000 square feet, but buyers have the flexibility to create even larger custom homes if they desire. Interest in the concept has already proven strong, with more than 10% of prospective purchasers on Optima Lumina’s VIP interest list expressing interest in a combination residence. At Optima McDowell Mountain in Scottsdale, Ariz., the firm’s newest condominium project in the Southwest, combination residences accounted for 45% of early pre-sales.
Designed, developed, built, sold and managed entirely in house, Optima Lumina reflects Optima’s fully integrated approach to architecture and creating a seamless resident experience through thoughtful design, exceptional amenities and attentive service.
Optima Lumina represents the company’s first exterior use of architectural terracotta, a material that offers a richly textured appearance and develops a beautiful, natural patina over time. From a performance standpoint, terracotta is resistant to high temperatures, frost, torrential rain and UV exposure, and its high thermal mass makes it an effective insulator. The exterior will also feature Optima’s proprietary Vertical Landscaping System, which wraps balconies, terraces and rooftop spaces in greenery selected to remain vibrant throughout the year.
Residents will have access to an extensive collection of wellness-focused amenities centered around a private courtyard and rooftop Sky Deck. Amenities include a fitness center, locker rooms, yoga and Pilates studios, sports lounge with golf simulator, indoor pickleball and basketball court, massage room, business center, library lounge, dog park and pet spa, children’s playroom and landscaped courtyard. The Sky Deck will feature a heated pool with a retractable glass wall for year-round use, spa and cold plunge, sauna and steam rooms, red-light therapy room, locker rooms, outdoor garden lounge, outdoor kitchens, dining areas, fire pits, residents’ club, chef’s kitchen and sweeping tree-top views of Wilmette and the surrounding North Shore.
In addition to its Vertical Landscapting System, Optima Lumina incorporates numerous sustainability features, including VRF heating and cooling systems, induction cooktops, and 100% EV charging capacity throughout the building’s below-grade parking garage. The community is targeting Two Green Globes certification.
Optima Lumina will transform the largely vacant former Imperial Motors dealership site into a vibrant mixed-use destination. The existing Starbucks at 739 Green Bay Road has announced plans to move into a brand-new retail space at Optima Lumina when the community opens in 2028.
Condominium sales at Optima Lumina are represented by Optima Real Estate, Inc. and Jameson Sotheby’s International Realty. The Optima Lumina sales gallery, located at 711 Green Bay Road on the ground floor of Optima Verdana, is now accepting appointments, with priority currently being given to members of Optima’s VIP interest list.
