As developers Chris and Andrew McCool noticed, there is no shortage of demand for high-end apartments in West Chester. In under a year since the opening of their new building, located at 124 Marketplace in the 100 block of East Market Street, all the apartments are fully leased, and calls looking for vacancies keep coming in by the dozens every week, writes Brian McCullough for the Daily Local News.

“That tells you all you need to know of the demand,” commented Chris McCool.

The newly constructed five-story building includes 88 one or two bedrooms apartments in its 195,000-square-feet, all of which are currently rented. The retail space is still looking for some tenants as the McCool’s are taking their time to find the right businesses to complement the apartments.

The brothers purchased the property eleven years ago despite protests from history buffs who wanted to preserve the M.S. Yearsley & Sons building, the longtime hardware store that used to occupy the site. The recession had slowed down the plans for new construction, but the McCools managed to get all the necessary steps completed by the end of 2014, allowing them to open the building on April 1st last year.

“After that, it took only six months to fill up,” said Andrew McCool.

The building, which includes private parking, free WiFi, dry cleaning and pet walking services among its many amenities, is currently valued at $35 million. The brothers are aware that despite all the amenities that come with the new apartments, the true draw for the building represents the town of West Chester itself.

“There’s a huge demand for in-town, modern living,” commented Chris McCool, who together with his brother, also developed the former Bishop Shanahan High School into condominiums.

The management takes advantage of that and has arrangements with several local popular restaurants to offer tenants a percentage off meals and drinks while promoting group activities. The rent ranges from $1,500 to $2,300 a month, with some of the units coming fully furnished for those who need temporary but long term accommodation.

Read more about the new apartment complex on the Daily Local News here.