Westfield Old Orchard Redevelopment Update

Plans for the transformative redevelopment of Westfield Old Orchard are now going through the Village’s formal review process.

The planned $100 million investment in Skokie follows the Village Board’s 2022 decision to designate the shopping center as a business district, paving the way for redevelopment and enhancement of the property, the Village’s premiere sales tax generator.

What’s proposed

Plans call for two phases of redevelopment:

• Phase 1 would demolish the former Bloomingdale’s space at the northwest portion of the mall and construct a five-story and a seven-story mixed-use building with more than 400 residential apartments, 16,000 square feet of restaurant and retail space, and a new public common area and event space.

• Phase 2 would include demolition of the existing retail space at the north end of the shopping center and construction of a seven-story mixed-use building that would contain retail and restaurant uses, 250 residential units, residential amenity space, and a parking garage; along with an eight-story mixed-use building that will contain retail and restaurant uses and a 200-key hotel or up to 125 residential units.

Review process

• The Village’s Plan Commission recommended approval of the plans at its meeting on August 15.

• The Village’s Appearance Commission will next review the project and determine if it will be awarded a Certificate of Appropriateness.

• Following reviews by the Plan and Appearance Commissions, the Village Board will consider the recommendations and make a decision, anticipated later this fall.

Updates throughout the process will be shared on the Village’s Westfield Old Orchard Redevelopment web page, at skokie.org

New businesses bloom

As redevelopment plans are reviewed, new businesses continue to bloom at Westfield Old Orchard. Recent additions include a new, larger Pottery Barn location, a flagship location for fashion brand Zara, design and furniture brand Arhaus, Swiss chocolate and confectionery Läderach, adventure gear store Arc’teryx, and more.