LEWISTON — A housing development bringing 35 units to the downtown cleared a major hurdle Tuesday when the City Council gave initial approval for developers to build more units than allowed in the residential zone.

For the past six years, the lot at Blake and Pine streets has been empty following a string of fires in 2013.

A proposal by Avesta Housing has attracted strong support and some criticism.

Following a lengthy session of public comment Tuesday, filled with mostly support for the project based on Lewiston’s shortage of safe and affordable housing, the City Council voted 4-2 to approve the contract rezoning in a first reading.