A restaurant is being planned in a long-abandoned house on Willow Street.
Matthew Ballard said he bought the house at 1302 Watkins in 2016 at an IRS tax sale.
The City Council on Tuesday night approved UGC zoning for the property so the restaurant operation can go forward.
Mr. Ballard said the restaurant will be operated by a resident of nearby Kirby Avenue. He said the sous chef for the establishment also lives in the neighborhood.
He said the home, which he called "a beautiful old house," had been boarded up for about 12 years.
Mr. Ballard said after he bought it someone broke in and started a damaging fire.
He said neighbors are excited about the project and have been keeping an eye on the property since then.