Portion Of Aurora's Fox Valley Mall To Transition To Luxury Apartments

AURORA, IL — A portion of the Fox Valley Mall will be re-imagined into luxury living accommodations that will include more than 300 luxury rental apartments in the former Sears store and adjacent parking lot, the project’s designer recently announced.

Lumen Fox Valley will include 304 luxury apartments that will range in size from studios to three-bedroom units. The space will also include a two-story lounge, private dining room, and parlor, a game room as well as a fitness and yoga studio, the designer said.

Evanston-based Morgante Wilson Architects has been hired to design the space by the project’s developers, Atlantic Residential and Focus. The developers also announced that the Lumen Fox Valley will include an outdoor pool, grilling stations, and sundeck.

“Since we launched our interiors division in 2007, we’ve had the opportunity to partner with top developers on a variety of multifamily projects, ranging from Class A high-rises in downtown Chicago to suburban rental communities, including a previous project with Focus in Vernon Hills,” said Elissa Morgante, the co-founder of Morgante Wilson Architects, who is leading the Lumen Fox Valley project team along with MWA partner K. Tyler.

“By marrying the same approach we take for designing comfortable, welcoming, and one-of-a-kind homes for private residential clients with our deep understanding of developers’ priorities and what resonates in a multifamily setting, we’ve honed a successful formula for creating multifamily environments that set communities apart and enhance the residential experience they offer."

Morgante said that suburban residents are increasingly looking for the same luxury housing amenities that are available to residents who live in Chicago. Project officials said that when completed, the apartments will feature contemporary high-end finishes including quartz countertops, beautiful cabinetry, and luxury vinyl plank flooring, she said.

The project is expected to be completed in the fall.

"That expectation (from residents) extends not only to the programming in terms of offerings that enhance their lifestyle, but also the aesthetic of these spaces,” Morgante said. “We’re working with the developers to create a design concept that will contribute to the unique character of this property and its surroundings, and speak to prospective renters. The design will create a flow between the amenity areas from one space to another, creating both opportunities for shared social experiences as well as small group gatherings.”