The city council voted 5-2 Monday night to approve a rezoning that allows a proposed 180-unit mixed-income apartment complex near the Hawthorn Street rail corridor to move forward — ending a months-long dispute that divided residents, housing advocates, and preservationists.

The vote, which came after more than four hours of public testimony and council debate, rezoned a 4.6-acre parcel from single-family residential to mixed-use, clearing the path for a developer to begin formal site plan review.

Council members Denise Ford and Ray Callahan cast the dissenting votes, both citing concerns about traffic impact and what Ford called “a fundamental mismatch between the scale of this project and the neighborhood it will border.”

Supporters argued the project — which will include 45 units reserved for households earning at or below 60 percent of the area median income — is exactly what the city’s housing action plan called for when it was adopted two years ago.

“We cannot say we support affordable housing and then vote no every time it has a specific address,” said Councilwoman Osei.

What the Project Includes

The proposed complex, from a regional developer that has built similar projects in four other cities, would rise to five stories on the eastern portion of the parcel and step down to three stories along the residential street frontage. Ground-floor commercial space — approximately 8,000 square feet — is required by the rezoning conditions.

The 45 affordable units will be deed-restricted for 30 years. Market-rate units in the building are expected to rent in the $1,450–$1,850 range for a one-bedroom, according to a pro forma submitted to the council.

A traffic study commissioned by the developer projected 380 new vehicle trips per day, a number challenged by residents who hired their own traffic engineer, whose analysis put the figure closer to 540.

The Community Response

The Hawthorn Neighborhood Association formally opposed the rezoning, gathering 340 signatures and presenting a detailed counter-analysis at each of the three public hearings.

Association president Carl Bauer said the vote was a disappointment but that the group intends to participate actively in the site plan review process, where additional conditions can be imposed.

“This isn’t over,” Bauer said after the vote. “The site plan is where the real details get decided.”

A group of residents has also indicated they may seek legal review of the environmental assessment, though no filing has been made.

What Happens Next

The developer must now file a formal site plan application, which will trigger another round of staff review and public comment before the planning board. Council does not vote on site plans, but the planning board can impose conditions on parking, access points, lighting, and building materials.

Construction is not expected to begin for at least 18 months.