The Cooper Arms property was developed by Larkin Cooper.
 It was built on a portion of Ocean Boulevard that had previously been "given over to fine homes."
 There were originally eight houses on the site, all owned by Cooper.
 Cooper came to Long Beach from Emporia, Kansas, where he had been in the feed and grain business.

In April 1922, the Long Beach Daily Telegram announced the plan to build a luxury apartment building on the site.
 The planned development was billed as follows: "Long Beach to Have Finest Apartments in Whole Southland."

The building was constructed from 1923-1924 when Long Beach was undergoing a building and population boom.
 When construction started in March 1923, the Los Angeles Times published a drawing of the Cooper Arms and described it as "an apartment-house which when completed, will be one of the most imposing structures of its kind west of Chicago."
 At the time, Long Beach's skyline lacked other skyscrapers, and the Times predicted that "this magnificent building will become a landmark that may be seen from ocean vessels miles away."

In 1933, the Cooper Arms survived the Long Beach earthquake without major damage.
 One long-time resident recalled standing on the roof of the building when the earthquake struck:
I was tinkering with an old radio when the earthquake hit.
It knocked me flat on my face.
I watched the old  Edgewater Building topple down.
 This building [Cooper Arms] is built out of steel and concrete.
It just swayed from east to west — but it held together.
We heard there was going to be a tidal wave after the earthquake, so I gathered my camping gear and fishing pole, got into my Franklin automobile and drove to Lake Henshaw to do a little fishing until the excitement died down.

In 1974, the building celebrated its 50th anniversary with three of the original occupants still in residence.
 At the time, the Long Beach Independent Press-Telegram wrote that some of the excitement and luster had faded: "Party days at the Cooper Arms, along with the festive zest which once was the order of the day, have waned with the passage of years.
The downtown lounge, with its plush oriental carpeting and ornate baroque ceilings, is now quiet and empty."

The building is currently operated as condominiums by the Cooper Arms Homeowners Association.
The Cooper Arms property was developed by Larkin Cooper.  It was built on a portion of Ocean Boulevard that had previously been "given over to fine homes."  There were originally eight houses on the site, all owned by Cooper.  Cooper came to Long Beach from Emporia, Kansas, where he had been in the feed and grain business.
In April 1922, the Long Beach Daily Telegram announced the plan to build a luxury apartment building on the site.  The planned development was billed as follows: "Long Beach to Have Finest Apartments in Whole Southland."
The building was constructed from 1923-1924 when Long Beach was undergoing a building and population boom.  When construction started in March 1923, the Los Angeles Times published a drawing of the Cooper Arms and described it as "an apartment-house which when completed, will be one of the most imposing structures of its kind west of Chicago."  At the time, Long Beach's skyline lacked other skyscrapers, and the Times predicted that "this magnificent building will become a landmark that may be seen from ocean vessels miles away."
In 1933, the Cooper Arms survived the Long Beach earthquake without major damage.  One long-time resident recalled standing on the roof of the building when the earthquake struck:
I was tinkering with an old radio when the earthquake hit. It knocked me flat on my face. I watched the old  Edgewater Building topple down.  This building [Cooper Arms] is built out of steel and concrete. It just swayed from east to west — but it held together. We heard there was going to be a tidal wave after the earthquake, so I gathered my camping gear and fishing pole, got into my Franklin automobile and drove to Lake Henshaw to do a little fishing until the excitement died down.
In 1974, the building celebrated its 50th anniversary with three of the original occupants still in residence.  At the time, the Long Beach Independent Press-Telegram wrote that some of the excitement and luster had faded: "Party days at the Cooper Arms, along with the festive zest which once was the order of the day, have waned with the passage of years. The downtown lounge, with its plush oriental carpeting and ornate baroque ceilings, is now quiet and empty."
The building is currently operated as condominiums by the Cooper Arms Homeowners Association.
Cooper Arms Apartments