GRAND RAPIDS — The proposal to build Grand Rapids’ tallest tower has cleared its last major hurdle.

Members of the Grand Rapids Historic Preservation Commission (HPC) voted 5-2 in favor of allowing Portage-based The Hinman Co. to move forward with its plans to build an approximately 40-story hotel and apartment tower at 10 Ionia Ave. NW.

It wasn’t immediately clear when construction would begin at the wedge-shaped site near the three-way intersection of Fulton and Louis Streets and Ionia Avenue.

Rhonda Baker, a city staff liaison for the HPC, told MiBiz that given the scope of the project she anticipates groundbreaking could be more than a year out.

Executives with The Hinman Co. did not immediately respond to requests seeking comment and it’s not clear whether the developers will seek state incentives.

As MiBiz previously reported, the HPC had already approved the building’s height of 418 feet. But given the site’s location within a historic district, issues of design and materials remained as sticking points.

“The developers were pleased with the final design and so were the commissioners,” Baker said.