Public interest has been high during the review process, with some 1,500 letters objecting to the chain store as a threat to the area's small businesses and neighborhood character and more than 2,000 in favor of the idea as a way to revitalize the commercial district and restore the vintage structure, which was built in 1928.

Green decided to approve the project on Oct. 10, even though it lacked the mandatory eight residential parking spaces, but decided to require that all the existing storefront spaces be left for small businesses instead of setting aside a corner section for the retail chain. Owner Lee appealed the restriction five days later, saying Walgreens will not commit to the "awkward, L-shaped layout'' with no street exposure.

The plot thickened at the end of October, when city prosecutors filed charges against former Planning Commission President Hector Chinchilla, who allegedly accepted roughly $20,000 as a consultant to the project sponsor. Although Chinchilla was excused during the June votes on the project, the district attorney characterizes his participation in this as well as two other planning deals as a violation of misdemeanor conflict-of-interest laws.