The City Council on Tuesday night gave final approval for a Knoxville developer to construct a 7-story apartment complex on Cowart Street across from the nearby historic district. Councilman Larry Grohn cast the only no vote.

The council did so despite pleas from a number of Southside residents and business owners, who asked for a compromise at five stories.

However, Mike Price, spokesperson for the developer, and developer Travis Fuller said it was not financially feasible to have fewer stories due to the cost of adding a parking garage.

Cynthia Watson said many citizens are "dismayed and extremely upset" that the project would undo decades of careful planning built around a smaller scale on the Southside. She called the move "deeply wrong."

Francis McCallie said he and his wife chose to restore a Southside home "because we made a choice for the gracious urban living as well as the beauty and the sense of space and history." He said, "I have not met any of my neighbors who want a seven-story building at this site."

Architect Eric Myers also spoke against the lifting of the height restriction out of respect for the smaller-scale architecture nearby. He said of the approval that "our concern is where does this stop? Where do you draw the line?" He said there were four architects in the audience opposed.

John Bridger, Regional Planning Agency director, said the staff recommended a limit of five stories with the top floor stepped back because "we thought staying (in scale) with the two-story historic district was important."

Mr. Price said he has heard from architects who are in support. He said the $25 million project will be "a quality building and quality streetscaping."

Mr. Fuller said the design started at five stories, but it was found that seven stories was necessary to make the numbers work. He said, "We needed to create some volume."

He said he is from Chattanooga and had a prior project in Ooltewah.

The vote was taken after council members Chip Henderson and Ken Smith said they were relying on the recommendation of the councilman from that district, Chris Anderson. Councilman Smith asked him to confirm that the majority of those in the district favored the project.

Councilman Anderson said that was the case considering all the district, not just those near Cowart Street. He said many of the opponents in the audience work in the district, but do not live there. He said there were some supporters in the crowd.