How about trading East Colorado Boulevard’s “Darth Vader” for some Art Deco?

A plan to replace the derided boxy black office building at East Colorado Boulevard and Arroyo Parkway with a dense, commercial and residential building with Art Deco influences is largely delighting city officials, who see the project as a vital link between two downtown neighborhoods that can feel disconnected for pedestrians.

“They’re looking to do sort of a traditional architectural style that’s contextual with Old Pasadena and respects some of that architecture,” Planning Director David Reyes said. “It is an important linkage to the Civic Center.”

James Li, a frequent player in the Pasadena real estate game, is proposing to demolish the existing 65,000-square-foot building and constructing a 196,000-square-foot building on the lot, which covers an entire city block.

The development would have retail and pedestrian access on the ground floor, four stories of underground parking for 400 cars and 88 to 100 residential units on other floors. The structure will vary in height from two to eight stories and would reach 117 feet tall at its tallest point.

“I think this will be one of the most dramatic additions to downtown,” Mayor Terry Tornek said.

The City Council got an update on the project Monday. The plan still hasn’t gone to any formal review process and specifics may change as Li moves through the multiple steps, including several public hearings, that would be needed to approve a project of this scale, Reyes said.

Council members Margaret McAustin and Tyron Hampton expressed some concerns about the planned building’s height, though they had positive things to say about its design and concept.

The AT&T building directly across the street is taller at 178 feet. City Hall is 133 feet tall, according to city spokeswoman Lisa Derderian. The five-story Playhouse Plaza is down the street, and, like this planned building, was also designed by Moule & Polyzoides.

The size and design got a thumbs up from Pasadena Heritage officials.

“The concept uniquely combines traditional architectural elements, which relate to surrounding historic buildings, with some contemporary accents that add an element of surprise and originality,” Executive Director Susan Mossman and Preservation Director Adam Rajper wrote in a letter to the council. “We do not object to the height of this project in this location because there are adjacent historic buildings that are of similar or greater height.”

The design calls for residential units ranging from a 730-square-foot loft to a 4,750-square-foot four-bedroom penthouse. None would be designated as affordable, so the developer would be required to pay an estimated $3.7 million in fees based on current rules.

At Councilman John Kennedy’s request, city staff and the developer will discuss using local labor and materials for the project.

However, it would be difficult to include such stipulations as requirements for the project’s approval, according to City Attorney Michele Bagneris.