"I believe we have a project that would be a welcome addition to this part of the city," said Charles Earl, an attorney representing developer Eddie Babbie of Babbie Enterprises of Detroit. In April, members of the Warren Planning Commission rejected Babbie's request to rezone the property for commercial and parking uses because the panel felt the change would not be conducive to the single-familyhomes to the south.

Babbie met with nearby homeowners on Tuxedo Avenue and tweaked his plan by proposing a 12,720-sf retail strip center at the northern portion of the site and adding two 6,360-sf multifamily buildings to the south. Each building would have five townhouse style condominiums with 1,150 sf of space. The planning board recommended unanimously in June that the City Council approve the rezoning. The council followed suit last week voting 8-0, although Councilwoman Donna Kaczor Caumartin was excused from voting on the proposed rezoning because she said the realty firm she works for is negotiating with Babbie's company to market the condominiums. The units, with attached garages and basements, will be priced between $190,000 and $230,000, Earl says.