‘The Cooper’ Reimagines Historic 1874 Building as Hip New Downtown Apartments
December 22, 2020By Christy Flemming, Town Square Delaware
A historic, cast-iron façade of the old Cooper’s Home Furniture store at 212 North Market Street Wilmington served as the centerpiece of a groundbreaking today for what soon will be a contemporary 92-unit apartment building.
Located between 2nd and 3rd Streets next to Al’s Sporting Goods, the aptly named ‘The Cooper’ will stretch the entire block between North Market and King Streets and will integrate two separate glass-filled residential buildings on either side of the long-empty Cooper building.
Architects and builders Buccini/Pollin Group (BPG) made preservation of the Cooper, constructed in 1874, a focal point of the design. An open courtyard with direct sunlight will be nestled beyond the building’s face connecting the two structures at ground level and enhancing the outdoor appeal of the space. An additional glass walkway will also link the buildings on the Market Street side.
The Cooper’s location on Lower Market Street puts it within walking distance to the train station, Riverfront, and downtown, something BPG hopes will be attractive to people who may currently commute to Wilmington.
