'Serial mover' finally feels at home in condo

Sabra Minkus has purchased a three-bedroom condominium with a 7,000 square-foot private green roof garden in Skokie.

Sabra Minkus has lived in a lot of homes over the past six years since her husband died.

"My children call me a 'serial mover,'" she said.

After selling the large home that she and her husband shared on 3 acres in Northbrook, she purchased two different attached homes in the Chicago area and eventually leased an apartment. She also sold a home in Albuquerque, N.M., and purchased a new home there.

But now she thinks she has settled in for awhile in a 3,000-square-foot condominium at Optima Old Orchard Woods in Skokie.

What makes Minkus especially happy with her new home is the 7,000-square-foot private landscaped roof garden with a brick patio and views of the Harms Woods Forest Preserve and the Chicago skyline.

It was the unusual architecture of Optima Old Orchard Woods that first attracted Minkus.

It also helps that Minkus knew the work of David Hovey, designer of Optima Old Orchard Woods and a nationally respected architect.

Minkus said she was impressed with the model condominiums she visited, but she wanted even more space.

The sales consultant took her to see the premium residence she eventually purchased, which included the rooftop garden.

The three-bedroom condominium includes 2½ baths, a deluxe kitchen and great room that Minkus has furnished as a living room, formal dining room and casual television viewing area.

"The atmosphere is light and airy with floor-to-ceiling windows and a huge great room that can accommodate three distinct living areas," Minkus said. "When I saw the unit, it was just a shell under construction, but it was easy to see the careful attention to detail and the functionality of the floor plan."

Minkus made only one change, replacing a small wall near the foyer with a glass display case that lightens the area's mood.

"Some items, including the beautiful sycamore kitchen cabinets, had already been chosen, and the selections were perfect," she said. "Compared to all of the home buying and selling I have done over the past six years, the move to Optima Old Orchard Woods has been the easiest."

Minkus said she feels comfortable with the size of the home.

"I appreciate the security, and best of all, I enjoy feeling close to nature and the outdoors, whether on my private terrace or taking advantage of the amenities of the forest preserve," she said.

She also appreciates the pool and sun deck her grandchildren enjoy using and that the community is pet-friendly.

Optima Old Orchard Woods includes 665 condominiums, recreational facilities and shopping within a building with three interconnected 20-story towers.

Each of the three towers has one-, two- and three bedroom residences and large combination residences and penthouses.

Prices range from $279,300 for a one-bedroom unit to more than $1 million for a penthouse or a combination unit like the one Minkus purchased.

To visit the Optima sales center, take the Edens Expressway and exit at Old Orchard Road, west to Harms Road, south to Golf Road (Route 58), east to Woods Drive, north one block to sales center. The office is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. Call (847) 583-4700 or visit optimaweb.com.