The spacious confines of Westfield Old Orchard Mall are to undergo substantial changes with an ambitious new project that will see its commercial landscape drastically altered, according to NBC Chicago. One of the mall's most prominent sections, including its now-defunct Bloomingdale's store, is scheduled for demolition to pave the way for a blend of residential apartments, a new common area, and event space, as well as updated retail and dining establishments.
With plans first unveiled in 2022, the Village of Skokie has recently given the project its stamp of approval—the demolishing phase is primed to start are responding to modern retail trends that necessitate change for enduring relevance and the addition of more than 400 living spaces adds a residential dimension to the longstanding community hub, with Phase 1 accounting for "approximately 260,000 square feet of existing retail space," as stated in a press release cited by NBC Chicago. This phase also promises 16,000 square feet of restaurant and retail space amid the new developments.
Looking further ahead, a second phase is on the horizon which will culminate in the establishment of two additional mixed-use buildings featuring more housing, commercial spaces, and the possibility of a new hotel as chronicled by The Chicago Tribune. During a late-summer meeting, the Skokie Plan Commission approved these plans that promise to knit the fabric of a vibrant, round-the-clock mixed-use community, replete with amenities that include a town square for public events, speaking to a broader trend of retail spaces being reimagined for contemporary community lifestyles.
However, these developments aren't without community concerns, specifically regarding affordable housing provisions. Residents voiced the need for more inclusive housing options and the developers responded by designating 3.5% of the new units for affordable housing—this percentage falls short of the hopes of some locals and officials seeking a more substantial commitment, in alignment with Skokie's recent affordable housing ordinance despite the said plans having been "grandfathered in" before its enactment, Trustee James Johnson among those advocating for a greater allotment of affordable units, noted a discrepancy with the figures set by other cities in similar situations.
As it stands, ground-breaking for the Old Orchard redevelopment is anticipated to commence as soon as Q3 of 2025 with sights set on completion in roughly two years, Stephen Fluhr, senior vice president of development for Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield, illuminated the vision of this project in a statement acquired by NBC Chicago, asserting that the reimagining of the mall is aimed at maintaining its status as a cherished retail and social focal point, a sentiment echoed in the ambitions for the revitalized space.
