COVE APARTMENTS
Historic commercial buildings converted for downtown living

LOCATION
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CONSTRUCTED
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PROJECT DATE
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PROJECT SCOPE
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PROJECT SIZE
Duluth, MN
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Roers Companies
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1910 and 1923​
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2018-2021
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Historic tax credit certification, masonry assessment, design guidance for historic building redevelopment
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65,000 sq. ft., 48 units

FOUNDATIONS ARCHITECTURE
FOUNDATIONS ARCHITECTURE

architect

New residential units reactivate underutilized commercial buildings in the heart of downtown Duluth.
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CHALLENGE
The historic Builder’s Exchange Building and adjacent Interstate Auto Company are located in the National Register-listed Duluth Commercial Historic District. New owners planned to complete a renovation of the underutilized buildings using state and federal tax credits, but the buildings needed immediate repairs and stabilization. The two buildings had also been connected at the interior, adding a layer of complexity to a historic tax credit certification project.
SUCCESS
New History worked with the ownership and design team to plan and execute a certified historic project. New History completed a masonry assessment to facilitate emergency repairs and navigated the historic tax credit application process, helping to integrate historic preservation approvals into the project schedule. Through creative problem-solving, New History worked with the project team to develop solutions to difficult design and construction challenges, resulting in a finished project that retains the historic character of these historic commercial buildings.