Partial redevelopment a leading idea for Winnetka Post Office site — but ’boutique hotel’ gets support

A proposal to partially redevelop the former Winnetka Post Office site drew the interest of a majority of Village trustees on Tuesday; however, others suggested more options should be considered.

Ultimately, during a special study session of the Village Council, trustees gave staff direction to issue a request for proposal/qualifications for open space and streetscape development, while also to pursue a request for information to see what developers may be interested in building on the north side of the former post office site.

As first reported by The Record in 2022, the Village of Winnetka identified the former (now-demolished) post office site at 512 Chestnut St. as a potential redevelopment opportunity decades ago. But it was only within the past few years that action was finally taken.

After the U.S. Post Office moved to 586 Lincoln Ave. in late 2025, the former post office building was demolished in the spring, with the site transitioning to a vacant lawn while officials figure out next steps.

That included a public engagement process featuring open houses and surveys conducted by Teska Associates and SB Friedman.

The results of that public engagement process were shared with the Village Council on Tuesday, Oct. 13.

Interest in open space, small development

Jodi Mariano, with Teska Associates, said out of six concepts, residents — 193 participants in the open house and 679 survey respondents — singled out No. 4, a “partial redevelopment” plan that includes retaining some open space while constructing a 1- to 1 1/2-story commercial building, potentially a restaurant, and creating more parking.

Additionally, Mariano said Concept 4, along with Concept 3 (expansion of open space and underground parking) were the top two choices of online participants.

A preliminary cost analysis done by SB Friedman estimates that the project would cost the village $17.7 million if they pursued underground parking, or $7.8 million without it.

Council leanings, other ideas

As discussions on the post office proposal began, Village President Bob Dearborn reiterated that the concept that was presented is preliminary and that no final decisions are imminent.

“This is one step along the way,” he said. “We’re getting information. There are going to be decisions to make. I want to walk away from here today with direction to our staff on some of this if we can.”

A majority of trustees voiced support for further exploring Concept 4.

“I think [the concept] does a nice job of keeping open space, keeping flexible space,” Trustee Bridget Orsic said. “And we do have a lot of restaurants that had wanted to come in but there was no space for them.”

Trustee Kim Handler said that while the price tag for underground parking is high, the village should not take it off the table.

“I think it would be very short- sighted to undertake this once-in-a-lifetime project and not put underground parking in place,” she said.

But Trustee Tina Dalman said she feels Option 4 is “a real missed opportunity.” She said the proposed building is smaller than neighboring buildings and suggested that the village go out to RFP for development options along the entire property.

“I’m concerned if we go out for an RFP just on the open space that that limits us, because you’re taking potentially what we may need in 40 or 50 years out of the discussion,” she said. “My thought is, let’s see what the market would present.”

Trustee Scott Myers also took issue with the amount of green space in the proposed concept, saying if that option were pursued, he believes the village would be under pressure to program the space in order to keep the downtown area active.

He suggested that, instead of a restaurant, the village pursue a boutique hotel for the site.

“Something like a boutique hotel is open to the public, can have a restaurant where it’s public engagement, can have a vehicle for programming any green space, and can provide additional tax revenue to help pay for underground parking,” he said.

Myers’ boutique hotel suggestion was also a recommendation of several people who spoke during public comment.

Bob Horn, a real estate developer, was among that group and said he feels the Village has enough parks and that “the demand for a boutique hotel in this community would be extraordinary.”

“A hotel generates way more tax base than anything we’re talking about,” Horn said.

Kitty Brandtner, owner of Little Elm, 847 Elm St., said as the mother of young children, she enjoys Winnetka’s parks, but believes the post office redevelopment should focus on something besides open space.

“As a business owner, I would love to see more foot traffic bringing people in,” she said. “The former post office site is an extraordinary opportunity. Imagine a beautiful boutique hotel where grandparents can stay when visiting their grandchildren. As much as we all cherish the character of our old homes, we also know they don’t necessarily accommodate long stays from parents and in-laws.”

Others, however, spoke in favor of the plan being discussed.

Kip Robson said he was speaking “on behalf of all the young families” who could not attend Tuesday’s meeting. He said he and everyone he knew chose Concept 4 as their preference because it’s a “flexible space” and argued that development would make it inflexible.

“We bike to Kenilworth and Glencoe for the food trucks,” he said. “How amazing would it be to have a great community space in the summertime? Pull those food trucks up to that parking space, have the open area, have there be an open seating area.”

Katie Stevens, a frequent speaker at Winnetka’s public meetings, also voiced support for Concept 4, calling it similar to the 1921 Plan of Winnetka, created by Edward H. Bennett.

“This is our last bastion in our village of public land,” she said. “It should not go to a few. It belongs to all of us. This is what it was always meant to be, and this is why it’s a lifetime opportunity.”

With the direction from the board, Village staff will work with consultants to issue a RFI and conduct interviews to see what may be the most appropriate use of any development within the site.

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