Northbrook trustees have given an initial green light to Little Einstein’s Academy and Daycare to operate in a former day care center in the northwest corner of the village.

Trustee Johannah Hebl, chairwoman of the Village Board’s Planning and Economic Development Committee, said the proposal would address the need for day care facilities in Northbrook.

“It makes sense to me. I’m all in favor of this,” Hebl said. “We need day care in this community. We’ve seen a lot of day care facilities come before us, and not all of them have moved forward. So there must be a real need in this community for day care. I can’t imagine what people are paying for day care right now.”

Trustees Heather Ross and Michelle Kohler voiced support for Hebl. The board unanimously agreed on Aug. 12 to send the proposal to the Plan Commission for review before it may return to trustees for final approval.

“I agree with everything you said,” Ross said. “On to the Plan Commission.”

If approved, Little Einstein’s will occupy a 6,200-square-foot site, formerly occupied by Wyspa Dzieci Learning Center day care, in the southwest portion of the existing office building on the property, said Amy McEwan, director of planning and development for the village.

The one-story parcel, which sits on the northeast corner of Dundee and Huehl roads and contains an outdoor play area, has been vacant since January, McEwan said. Wyspa Dzieci previously occupied the property since 2012, she said.

Little Einstein’s would contain five classrooms, an office and a warming kitchen, McEwan said. Food would be catered and delivered each morning, she said.

The facility will serve up to 96 children between the ages of 2 and 12 years old, McEwan said. It will be staffed by 14 employees, she said.

Hedl said the proposal sounds ideal for the site.

“Is this proposed child day care use appropriate? Absolutely,” she said. “And it is acceptable in an IB industrial institutional (zoning) district. I’m fine with it.”

The property currently contains four classrooms and a large open space that was used to develop gross motor skills, said Natalia Zukowski of Little Einstein’s in the center’s application. Zukowski said she plans to convert the open space into a fifth classroom.

She also plans to add a hallway to connect the entrance with the rest of the classrooms, a hand-washing sink in one of the classrooms, and a stackable laundry machine near a sink in a closet.

“Additionally, the entrance to the playground will be through the front corridor, with the outside gate only used as a secondary, emergency exit from the playground,” Zukowski said.

Little Einstein’s would lease the property from The Center on Deafness, which owns the building and operates on 20,000 square feet at the connected neighboring address, 3444 Dundee Road, she said. Comfort Air Control, an HVAC company, occupies a third 600-square-foot parcel in the building, Zukowski said.

She said the five classrooms would be separated by age:

Classroom 1 would serve 2-3-year-olds with a maximum of 16 kids and at least two staff.
Classroom 2 would serve 3-4-year-olds with a maximum of 20 kids and at least two staff.
Classroom 3 would serve 4-5-year-olds with a maximum of 20 kids and at least two staff.
Classroom 4 would serve 15-month-olds to 2-year-olds with a maximum of 15 kids and at least three staff.
Classroom 5 would serve 5-12-year-olds with a maximum of 25 kids and at least two staff.

Little Einstein’s would operate Mondays through Fridays from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. and would be closed on Saturdays and Sundays, Zukowski said.

 

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/09/03/northbrook-gives-ok-to-day-care/