Going up? Probably, but not quite yet.

Lawrence city commissioners indicated Tuesday they may give approval to a new downtown development project that will tower over its neighbors — and which proponents say will bring new businesses and residents to the city’s core.

“I think if we deny projects like this and still try to insist that downtown is our primary regional commercial center, we’re fooling ourselves,” Mayor David Dunfield said.

But a final decision will wait a week, until developer Bo Harris can provide official documentation showing that a smaller project would be difficult to sustain financially. Such documentation will be needed to receive a state historic preservation official’s approval.

And there was some commission opposition. Commissioner Mike Rundle said approval of the project would go against the city’s historic preservation, downtown design and zoning rules.

“We’re asking an awful lot to compromise all those policies and principles,” Rundle said. “I want to see this go forward as well, but with modification.”

Harris’ plans call for a 100,000-square-foot building that would include 32 loft-style condominiums, retail stores, offices and a 52-space underground parking garage at the northeast corner of Eighth and New Hampshire Street.

The proposed building would be as much as 78 feet and five stories tall, higher than zoning code limits of 45 feet and four stories. By comparison, the Eldridge Hotel is 63 feet tall, while the US Bank building is 77 feet tall.

Commissioners had several issues to resolve Tuesday:

An architect's rendering shows the retail/office/ condominium development proposed for the 700 block of New Hampshire Street. The five-story project would dominate the southeast side of the block.

l Harris’ appeal from the Historic Resources Commission ruling that the project would “encroach upon, damage or destroy” the environs of two nearby historic buildings — Eldridge Hotel, 701 Mass., and the News Center, 645 N.H., both of which are on the National Register of Historic Places. Dan Simons, co-owner of the News Center, wrote a letter in support of Harris’ project.

The News Center is home to the Journal-World and 6News reporting staffs.

l Harris’ appeal of an ad hoc committee’s findings that the height and angled parking proposed for New Hampshire Street are in violation of the city’s Downtown Design Guidelines.

l Approval of a site plan for the project.

l An agreement to move 67 city parking spaces from the Borders parking lot north of the condominium site to a new lot built as part of Harris’ project.

The project was considered important and contentious enough that four former mayors — Jo Andersen Abbott, Marci Francisco, Marty Kennedy and Bob Schumm — testified. All but Franscisco favored the project; Francisco expressed reservations about violating the city’s processes.

East Lawrence neighbors were split, with some saying the project was too big for the neighborhood, while others said it would help revitalize the area.

“We’re very excited about this concept,” said Jim Roberts, a rural Lawrence resident who hopes to live in the condominiums. “We think it’s fantastic for downtown Lawrence.”

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“I personally like the project a lot, I hope it flies,” countered neighborhood resident K.T. Walsh. “I hate the height.”

Downtown Lawrence Inc. officials offered a mixed assessment. President Maria Martin said her organization favored the project, but also supported compliance with the existing downtown guidelines.

Dunfield and Commissioner Sue Hack were solidly in favor of the project. Rundle and Commissioner David Schauner expressed the strongest concerns. Commissioner Boog Highberger appeared to be wavering.

“This is probably the most difficult decision I’ve looked at since I’ve been in this position so far,” Highberger said.

Commissioners likely will give final consideration to the project at their next meeting, 6:35 p.m. Tuesday in City Hall, Sixth and Massachusetts street.