Mastro and Mastandrea had turned the project over to Trammell Crow Residential, which optioned a neighboring property, hired a new architect and redesigned the project to accommodate more apartment units. But those involved say TCR ran into financial trouble and the project fell back into the hands of Mastro and Mastandrea, who brought back original architect Mark Travors to once again seek approvals for the original design.

"(TCR) had developed the design to where the design board considered it complete, and then they went belly up," city land use planner Bruce Rips tells GlobeSt.com. "(TCR) had changed and enlarged the project and now the project has shrunk back to its original size."

Rips will be the one to issue a final decision on the project once the design review board makes its final recommendations. Rips tells GlobeSt.com that there are no major design hurdles to overcome. If all goes well, Travors will have Mastro's Master Use Permit in hand by March, at which time he can begin seeking the necessary construction permits en route to an August groundbreaking.