A historical Wilmington home at the corner of South Front and Ann streets could see new renovations and an adjacent apartment building if plans submitted to city leaders this summer move forward.

The three-story home, which was built in 1890, formerly housed the Taste of Country restaurant and was conveyed to the city of Wilmington in 2023 as part of a legal settlement with its former owner Peter Koke.

City leaders later declared the home at 226 and 222 S. Front St. surplus property. Dave Nathans, president of Urban Building Corp LLC, submitted a $600,000 bid for the property last fall, and the city conveyed the site to Urban Building Corp LLC in February, according to property records.

Now, Nathans is working with Rob Romero, owner of Wilmington’s Romero Architecture, to create a new look for the site.

Their vision includes renovating and refurbishing the existing home and adding a three-story apartment building on the adjacent lot.

Romero said he got involved with the project last fall and submitted project plans for review by city staff and Wilmington’s Historic Preservation Commission in June.

Plans propose converting the existing house into seven apartments and constructing a three-story building with six apartments on the adjacent lot. Renderings show that an exterior staircase would link the two buildings.

“The stairway between is like an interstitial web just to kind of tie the past and the present,” Romero said. “I think that’s the goal.”

The new vision aims to “bring back the architectural details (the home) once had and introduce new and appropriate additions,” according to a project narrative. It also would bring in a new color scheme that aims to be “era-appropriate” and tie the new building into the existing home.

The plans use the slope on the lot to create off-street parking under the buildings and add a driveway off Ann Street for more off-street parking at the back of the property.

The house needs a lot of work, Romero said, and will require an array of upgrades, including new siding and windows.

“We’re keeping the beauty of that house,” he added, “but then trying to make it work better for everyone.”

While Romero and Nathans are still working through comments from city staff, Romero said he expects the plans to go before the Historic Preservation Commission in about a month.

The seven-member Historic Preservation Commission reviews exterior changes to properties located in a historic district or overlay – like the property at 226 and 222 S. Front St. – “to ensure compatibility with the historic character of the district,” according to the city of Wilmington’s website.