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The iconic headquarters of the Waterbury Republican-American newspaper could become the new home of 38 iconic apartments under a plan the newspaper’s ownership and city officials are working up in concert with a Unionville developer.

Details of the development plan were included in documents submitted to the Waterbury Board of Alderman for its Dec. 9 meeting. The board is being asked to support an application by the city’s Waterbury Development Corp. for a $250,000 state grant to fund further planning and design work for the project.

The redevelopment of what was originally Waterbury’s central train station – and which still has a Metro-North station behind it – won’t see new buildings constructed on-site. However, the interior will be thoroughly renovated and restored, and split into a 10,000-square-foot office for the Republican-American and 38 new studios, one- and two-bedroom “luxury” apartments, the documents state.

First-floor spaces will also be reserved for restaurants, offices and shops.

The building’s iconic, Italianate, 240-foot tower will also be restored as part of the project.

Construction costs are estimated at $12 million. The developer, Unionville-based Parker Benjamin Inc., will seek both state and federal historic tax credits, and it’s located in a federal Opportunity Zone.