Cobalt Partners share North Shore Library development plans

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Milwaukee-based Cobalt Partners is hatching new plans for the former North Shore Library in Glendale.

The city of Glendale Planning and Architectural Review Commission was scheduled on Tuesday to consider amending the city’s comprehensive plan for “Coventry Commons,” a proposed mixed-use redevelopment district for 6800 North Port Washington Road.

Cobalt wants to repurpose the three-and-a-half-story office building and build infill development in former parking areas of the 4.33-acre site, a city agenda showed. Plans include indoor self-storage in the former library building and infill development including multi-family residential and commercial uses.

In March, an affiliate of Milwaukee-based La Macchia Holdings bought the 60,000-square-foot building from the city of Glendale for $750,000, state records showed.

The building has been long-vacant with no market demand for suburban offices, according to Cobalt Partners.

Cobalt plans to split the property into four potential development zones including a commercial zone, a multi-family housing zone, an indoor self-storage zone and a zone with future possible expansion of the self-storage zone, the agenda showed.

Residential construction will trigger construction of pedestrian and bike paths throughout the overall development, the agenda showed.

The estimated value of buildings in the proposal is more than $10 million, the agenda showed. Depending on approval, construction could start in the third quarter of 2026. The rest of the development will be carried out in separate phases.

Cobalt Partners and La Macchia Holdings are working together on the $200 million OneNorth development in Bayside. A new North Shore Library opened there in February.

RINKA provided renderings for the proposal.