Blank Space: What comes next for prime Winnetka land after demolition of Winnetka Post Office

With the former Winnetka Post Office now gone, Village officials are turning to the community to answer the next big question:

What should be done with the site?

Residents got their first chance to share their opinions during an open house on Tuesday, June 9, in Village Hall.

As previously reported by The Record, the former post office site at 512 Chestnut St. has been identified as a redevelopment opportunity for the Village for 40 years. But while ideas have been suggested over the years, it was only recently that action was taken.

In October 2025, trustees voiced support for demolishing the building, which reportedly had a number of maintenance issues, and temporarily converting the site into a vacant lawn.

Two months later, the post office moved to a new location, 586 Lincoln Ave., ending a string of lease extensions.

In March, trustees approved a demolition contract with A Lamp, and the building recently was razed.

On Tuesday, village officials, along with representatives from Teska Associates, were on hand during the two-hour open house to answer questions from residents and explain the different proposals for the site.

Those proposals range from simply leaving the site as a vacant lawn to a full redevelopment that could include a mixed-use (retail and residential) building, plus underground parking.

Using stickers, residents shared their opinions on what they liked, and didn’t like, about each of the design concepts, while also using Post-It notes to share specific thoughts on each of the designs.

Jodie Mariano, with Teska Associates, said she was impressed with how many residents showed up to the open house. About an hour into the open house, she said around 60 people had shared their feedback.

“Comparatively (to other open houses), that’s a very good turnout,” she said. “I think it just is a testament to how important this space is to the community, right in the heart of the downtown (business) district.”

“When so many people come and are really engaged and interested, it’s exciting to be a part of it,” she later added.

While Mariano hadn’t personally heard direct feedback on the concepts, she said it appeared to her that the posters with the most interaction showed proposals for mixed-use developments, including a one-and-a-half story restaurant and a four-story mixed-use building.

Residents whom The Record spoke with wanted to see more green space.

Teri Lowinger said that while most of the concepts had at least one element she liked, open space was important to her.

“I love extra green space and concepts that didn’t have too dense (of a) building on them,” she said.

The one concept she did not support was leaving the site as-is.

“It’s just unimaginative and boring and no trees,” Lowinger said. “It was like an afterthought.”

David Stevens said he also wanted the space to remain open.

“I think there’s more merit to not making it overbuilt,” he said. “There’s enough commercial property in the village.”

For residentsunable to make Tuesday’s open house, Mariano said more opportunities for feedback are available.

A second open house is planned from 6-8 p.m. on Monday, June 15, at Village Hall.

An online activity, which Mariano said will “mimic” the open house, will be available, as will an online survey for six to eight weeks.

Once all the data is collected, Mariano said Teska Associates will analyze the results and determine the top one or two concepts. Those findings, she said, will be presented at a future Village Council meeting, likely in October.

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