Leasing 'Way Ahead' Of Schedule At Highpoint At 8000 North

SKOKIE, IL — A downtown Skokie apartment building developed through a public-private partnership with the village is on track to be fully leased at higher than anticipated rents by the end of the year, according to its developer.

The 12-story mixed-use development includes 153 residential units and more than 10,000 square feet of as-yet unleased retail space.

Developer John Murphy said there will be multiple retail tenants in the building, possibly including restaurants, a coffee shop or an apparel store.

"We're talking to several prospects right now, but I think we're getting very close on a couple of them, and we'll be able to make an announcement to that effect," said Murphy, chairman and chief executive officer of Murphy Real Estate Services.

Rents for studios start at $1,750, with one-bedroom units starting at $2,095, two-bedrooms starting at $2,950 and three-bedroom starting at $4,395, according to marketing materials for the development.

"We're way ahead of the anticipated lease-up schedule as originally projected," Murphy told Patch, "at rates that are also considerably higher than our original projections."

Village officials gathered for a ribbon-cutting at the site earlier this month, nearly four years after holding a ceremonial groundbreaking there. The project originally had a different developer and a projected completion date of the end of 2019.

Murphy, who took over the project from Greenspire Capital, Pontarelli & Co. and Hoffman Homes in 2020, declined to specify how many units have been leased, or how many residents have moved in so far, although a property manager told Pioneer Press about 20 percent of the building's apartments had been rented so far.

The project was designed by architect Lucien Lagrange, who said the decision to place the development's parking lot aboveground was a key design element. The developer has the option to purchase the five-story, city-owned parking structure after 10 years.

“The design of Highpoint was centered on bringing a sense of urban sophistication to this vital intersection of the city,” Lagrange said in a statement.

“The fundamental decision to move the parking from underneath the residential tower allowed the building to engage the ground level and create opportunities for pedestrian oriented retail, a generous public courtyard, open air markets and an elegant sense of entry for the residents."

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Amenities in the building include a rooftop garden, a dog run, gym and "designer lounges for, entertaining, work or relaxing," according to its website. There is no front door attendant, although there is controlled access to the building and management on-site.

“Demand for a luxury apartment product similar to what you would see in downtown Chicago has continued to grow in the suburbs," said Aaron Galvin, chief of Luxury Living Chicago Realty, the firm in charge of marketing and leasing the property.

"Highpoint at 8000 North is meeting demand with its rooftop views, excellent location and luxury finishes designed for today’s modern renter,” he said in a statement.

Building management allows up to two pets per resident for a non-refundable one-time fee of $500 per pet, plus $20 per month per dog or cats. There is also 75-pound per pet weight limit and certain breeds of dog are not allowed, including Pitbull, Rottweiler, Doberman, German Shepherd, Malamute, Bull Terrier, Chow-Chow and Great Dane, according to Sabrina Wottreng, a spokesperson for Luxury Living Chicago Realty.

Lagrange, the building's architect, said his design brings something new to the village.

"The facade evokes a sense of permanence and security," he said. "[It is] punctuated by orderly residential windows and traditional detailing throughout that is executed with a modern touch. The consistent use of color at the building’s rounded corners, retail awnings and the roof level crown add a vibrant contribution to the new image of Skokie.”