Former grocery store space photographed on Jan. 12, 2023 in Northbrook at Sanders Court shopping center.
At the Jan. 10 Northbrook village board meeting, trustees heard from Amy Torf of Northbrook, founder and owner of Noggin Builders, LLC, about preliminary plans to relocate the Sky Harbor proximity Northbrook business down Dundee Road west to Sanders Court. A special use permit for educational service would be part of the application.
Noggin Builders wishes to combine three vacant tenant units via Westwood Financial, owner of Sanders Court, to provide science, technology, engineering and mathematics classes and camps for children aged 4 to 14. Birthday parties are part of the business model. “We have been trying very, very hard to get that accomplished but have not been very successful, but we have some more avenues that we’re trying to pursue,” Ciesla said to Pioneer Press.Torf is also a member of the Northbrook Plan Commission but will not be a part of the Plan Commission review process on the potential Noggin Builders application due to full disclosure to avoid conflict of interest.Torf’s Plan Commission term ends April of 2026.
“It’s just my opinion that this mall needs revitalization, that the residents of Northbrook really want this mall to be a vibrant part of our lives again,” Torf said. “Once the application is reviewed and deemed complete, it will be noticed for a public hearing at the Plan Commission, but it is too soon to predict that date,” Kohlstedt confirmed via email to Pioneer Press.