Vibrant downtown core the key for urban multifamily development

For suburban cities looking to attract multifamily development to their downtowns, finding ways to make those areas vibrant throughout the day and into the night is critical.

While amenities such as mass transit stops are also important, luxury renters want something more. Elmhurst, a suburb west of Chicago, addressed this challenge with a plan to boost its downtown in 2016.

A revised zoning code was a key measure. The city’s new rules allow for higher residential buildings that boost neighborhood density.

Minneapolis-based Opus Group responded with a plan for a luxury mixed-use development in Elmhurst’s downtown. The six-story structure will feature 164 residential units and more than 7,600 sf of class A retail space.