The Cooper, a $65 million five-story apartment complex in Fort Worth, will soon undergo partial demolition and rebuilding due to damage from a 6-alarm fire last June. The complex, located at 1001 W. Rosedale St. in the Near Southside, was mostly vacant following the June 23, 2025, incident but has recently resumed leasing.

Rebuilding Efforts

Work to rebuild one of the complex’s two buildings is expected to begin in July, according to a new filing with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation. The $5 million renovation project of 390-unit Building 1 will include the rebuilding of two demolished stacks, including a building enclosure.

The 26,750-square-foot renovation includes framing repairs to affected units, including truss removal and replacement, building interior partitions, and other framing. More than 800 residents were displaced by the fire, which was battled by 272 firefighters from Fort Worth and neighboring cities.

Investigation and Lawsuit

Former Fort Worth Fire Chief Jim Davis previously stated that there was no evidence of anything substandard at the complex, but rubber material in the roof, combined with summertime heat over 90 degrees, made the fire more difficult to subdue. Firefighters were forced to use knives to cut through the material.

On August 28, 49 former residents of The Cooper filed a lawsuit in Tarrant County’s 48th District Court, claiming the fire was caused by an unlicensed electrician hired by a contractor. The suit, seeking $1 million in damages, was filed against The Cooper’s owners, its former and current property management, and the electricians servicing an HVAC unit.

Armando Rodelo, the electrician working at The Cooper on the day of the fire, and the company he works for, Cano Electric, and its owner Larry Cano, are named in the suit and deny the allegations. The defendants claim that their work was in accordance with applicable industry standards, according to court filings.

Original reporting: Fort Worth Report — read the source article.