• Where is the Cooper Arms located in Long Beach, CA?
• What year was it built?
• How many units are in the Cooper Arms?
• Can you see the ocean from all units?
• What kind of amenities are available for residents?
• What kind of heating do units are in each unit?
• What’s included in the HOA?
• Who is the architect of the Cooper Arms?
• When did the Cooper Arms receive its designation as a historic building?
• What is the design style or architectural style of the building?
• Why is the property called the Cooper Arms?
• When was the Cooper Arms converted to condos?
• Is there parking at the Cooper Arms?
• Do all units have balconies?
• Is there a coffee shop in the building?
• What restaurants are nearby?

Overview of the Cooper Arms

When you are looking at historic condos in downtown Long Beach one of the buildings that should be on your list is the Cooper Arms. Located in the heart of downtown and within .5 miles of the ocean one can easily get to the water to relax, a sporting event at the sports arena, or dinner at one of the restaurants on the water.

This building is listed in the Long Beach Historical records as well as the National Register of Historical places.

It has retained its style from when it was built back when it was completed in 1924. You will find wood floors, mail boxes that have the 1920’s charm, and overall decor from the 1920’s.

Units at the Cooper Arms range from smaller studio units to 1 bedroom units that are over 1,000 square feet. With the difference in unit sizes there are often units available at different price points making them available for buyers at different levels.

Those who live in the Cooper Arms do so for the charm of the building and the units as well location of the building itself. Because of the era of when this building was built it does lack certain features that many of the newer towers in Long Beach feature.

For example, units do not have inside laundry as there is a laundry room. Onsite parking is also not available at the Cooper Arms although there are nearby parking lots that residents

Where is the Cooper Arms located in Long Beach, CA?

The Cooper Arms is located at 455 E Ocean Blvd, Long Beach, CA 90802. It is located at the corner of Linden and Ocean. While the Cooper Arms is a historic building it is located across the street from Aqua condominiums.

If you are new or newer to the area, some other landmarks that will help demonstrate the building’s location. It is located at the corner of Linden and Ocean avenue. For those unfamiliar with downtown that means it’s .6 miles to the Convention Center and .4 miles to the Long Beach sports arena. The famous Long Beach Grand Prix takes place on Shoreline drive which is .2 miles away.

What year was the Cooper Arms built?

It was built in 1923. It is a 12 stories tall historic building. Many units have kept the charm of the 1920’s with beautiful hardwood floors and kitchens that have been modernized but still have the charm.

How many units are in the Cooper Arms?

The Cooper Arms consists of 159 units. The building stands at 12 stories high. This building was not originally built to be lived in full time. It was originally built for people to come down as a vacation property. This means that the units range from studios to larger 1 bedroom units. Floor plans will range in size from just over 300 sq ft to over 1,000 sq ft.  Some 1 bedroom units sit at 1,029 sq ft in the 1 bedroom 1 bathroom configuration. The total configuration of the building is 409 rooms.

Can you see the Ocean from the Cooper Arms?

Depending on what floor you are and where the unit is positioned you may be able to see directly to the ocean. The building itself is located .4 miles from the Alamitos Beach Volleyball courts so the Ocean is extremely close.

What kind of heating do units use?

Modern condos, such as those at West Ocean, use modern systems such as forced air. The Cooper Arms, because of when it was built and its historic nature uses radiant heat.

What kind of amenities exist at the Cooper Arms?

Amenities play an important role when you live in a condo. You might be looking for a condo that has everything from a gym to parking to laundry spaces or even an outdoor area where you can relax.

Because it was built in 1923 as vacation property it doesn’t have all of the amenities of some of the more modern buildings however you might be surprised as to what it does have.

The amenities that are available to residents of the building include:

• Elevator Access. The Cooper Arms has two elevators. This allows residents to get to their units.
• Club house area. The Cooper Arms has a large and beautiful club house room. It has sweeping views from the room and is a perfect place to entertain.
• Laundry area. There is a laundry facility that tenants can access in the building.

What’s included in the HOA?

An HOA, or HomeOwners Association, is set-up to maintain the common areas of a building. In condos, such as the Cooper Arms, there are common areas that need to be maintained and common items such as the elevator.

• Maintenance of the Picnic Area
• Maintenance of the Club House
• Maintenance of the Recreational Multipurpose Room
• Trash
• Water

Who is the architect of the Cooper Arms?

The architect Claud W. Beelman is the architect behind this building. The building was built starting in 1923 and finished in 1924. The date of 1924 is confirmed by the landmark sign at the Cooper Arms itself.

At the time this building was built it was the most expensive at the time in Long Beach. It was designed as an “own your own apartment” or a cooperative type ownership. We know this or call this today as an HOA.

Today the architectural style designed by Claud remains as the building is a historic landmark and one can see history maintained on the exterior of this building and the interior on units that come up for sale.

It should be noted that Claud Beelman is a famous architect of his day and many of his buildings are in the historic registry. He was prolific in design and building during his career which began in the 1920s.

When did the Cooper Arms receive its designation as a historic building?

The Cooper Arms was part of a group of buildings in 1980 that were designated historic by the Long Beach Cultural Heritage Committee. Another building, the Villa Rivera, was also part of that group of seven buildings. It wasn’t 2000 that the Cooper Arms was added to the national register of historic places.

What is the design style or architectural style of the building?

Renaissance Revival is the style of the building. This style is heavily influenced by Italian design. This style came into play right around the time 455 E Ocean Blvd was being built. It is no surprise with its popularity at the time that the building was styled in this style.

Looking at the 6 keys to Renaissance Revival style one can see how the Cooper Arms shares these traits

1. Symmetry: Buildings are often symmetrical in design, with balanced proportions and a sense of order. This can be seen in the shape of the Cooper Arms, the windows, and even the balconies.
2. Classical Elements: Elements such as columns, pilasters, pediments, and entablatures are commonly used, drawing from classical Roman and Greek architecture. The lobby of the Cooper arms and the staircases reflect this design attribute.
3. Arches: Rounded or segmented arches, reminiscent of Romanesque architecture, are prevalent, particularly in doorways and windows. One only needs to look at the ground floor windows on the Cooper arms in the lobby to notice the arched windows.
4. Rustication: The use of rough, textured stone at the ground level, known as rustication, is common, giving buildings a sense of solidity and strength.
5. Decorative Details: Elaborate ornamentation and decorative details, including cornices, friezes, and intricate moldings, are often incorporated into facades and interiors. Look at a front picture of the Cooper Arms and you can see the condos on the first floor have design elements below their windows.
6. Use of Classical Orders: Buildings may feature the use of classical orders such as Doric, Ionic, or Corinthian columns, further emphasizing the classical influence. The interior of the Cooper Arms is the best place to see these design features.

Why is the property called the Cooper Arms?

The developer of the property was Larkin Cooper. The name of his company was the Cooper Arms building company. It’s likely this was one of his earlier projects and he selected the name Cooper Arms for the building. The lot where the Cooper Arms sits on today was once 8 homes.
Developers still do this tactic today where they buy adjoining lots, combine them, and then add value by building a larger building or a home on this. Just from this building this is a strategy that is over 100 years old in the Long Beach real estate market.

When was the building converted to condos?

The Cooper Arms originally started out as an Own Your Own Apartment. The conversion to condos, as we know it as a form of ownership, took place in the early 1980’s.

Is there parking at the Cooper Arms?

When the building was built in 1923 cars were starting to come on the scene. They were growing rapidly however buildings didn’t always account for parking for cars when they were doing the builds. The Cooper Arms does not have a parking garage below ground or above ground as many of the modern buildings do in Long Beach. This means that if you have a car and live at the Cooper Arms it’s likely you will use one of the nearby garages.

Nearby parking is available at several lots. A few of the lots that those at the Cooper Arms have used:

• 401 East Ocean Parking which is located at 18 Elm Ave, Long Beach, CA 90802 and is .1 miles away
• Shoreline Square Parking which is located at 300 E 1st St, Long Beach, CA 90802 and is .2 miles away

Do all units have balconies?

Unfortunately not all units have balconies. Many of the ones that do happen to also have a view of the ocean. This makes these units extremely desirable.

Is there a coffee shop in the building?

For those coffee lovers you will not be disappointed. There is a coffee shop on the ground floor called Rose Park Roasters.

Nearby Restaurants

Whether you are visiting a friend  or looking to stay long term we believe it’s great to know what’s available to eat. We have selected several nearby places that we believe you should try. Each one of these places is within a short distance of the 455 E Ocean.

• 555 East may be one of the finest steakhouses in all of Long Beach. It has a wonderful atmosphere, a classic bar, and steaks that will leave you wondering what took you so long to visit.
• Creme De La Crepe –  Looking for a French Restaurant in Long Beach? Located at 400 E 1st St, Long beach, CA 90802 they have a selection that ranges from Filet Mignon Tartare Au Couteau to a Warm Chicken Salad.
• Cafe 301 – One of our favorite meals here is breakfast. Everything from breakfast burritos to larger breakfast meals and they also serve lunch. Located at 301 E Ocean Blvd #2050, Long Beach, CA 90802
• L’Opera – when you are looking for fine dining in Downtown Long Beach we recommend a visit to L’Opera. Whether you want to treat yourself and a good friend to lunch or enjoy a nice dinner, you will enjoy yourself.

More Information about the Cooper Arms

• Videos of the Cooper Arms

Additional Information

• Cooper Arms HOA – The original website of the Cooper Arms HOA is not currently available. As we get updated information we will update the link and make sure the address is available.
• Cooper Arms Photos & Videos – Explore the look and feel of this historic condo through pictures and video.

**Get the Hot-List of Available Condos at the Cooper Arms!