HBO has given a greenlight to “Show Me a Hero,” David Simon’s long-percolating civil rights drama based on Lisa Belkin’s book of the same name.

The six-hour miniseries, which is penned by Simon and fellow former Baltimore Sun journalist/”The Wire” scribe William F. Zorzi, follows a young Yonkers mayor who is faced with a federal court order requiring that he build a small number of low-income housing units in his town’s Caucasian neighborhoods. His attempt to do so tears the entire city apart, paralyzes the entire municipal government and, ultimately, destroys the him and his political future. The series takes place in the 1980s and 90s.

Oscar Isaac has been cast as Nick Wasicsko, the politiican at the center of this controversy. Catherine Keener will play Mary Dorman, an East Yonkers homeowner who comes to a remarkable realization during the battle over where to build low-income housing.

Paul Haggis will direct all six episodes. He is exec producing with Simon, Zorzi, Gail Mutrux and Nina Kostroff Noble.

The project has been on the books since the 2003-04 development season.