A project on the drawing boards for several years is starting up the permit application process again, Charlie Conner of Conner Homes said last week.

Several years ago, Conner bought all of the property along the east side of California Avenue from Alaska Street south to the New Luck Toy restaurant and he acquired all of the buildings on the south side of Alaska Street between California and 42nd avenues. He also bought the stores on the west side of 42nd Avenue from Alaska Street south to about where the Harbor Properties "Mural" construction is underway now.

Conner said last week the alley vacation permit application in underway again and he hopes construction will begin in 2010.

Conner plans to build an eight-story apartment building at California Avenue and Alaska Street, with a six-story apartment building next to it at Alaska Street and 42nd Avenue.

Conner's development would be kitty corner from Leon Capelouto's project now underway along Alaska Street from 41st to 42nd avenues southwest. The seven-story structure will have 65,000 square feet of retail space on two levels, plus five stories of apartments above. There will also be two levels of underground parking.

Conner said construction of his apartment-retail development "is gonna be out there a little," meaning work won't begin immediately.

"It's going to happen. It's a question of sooner or later," Conner has said. "But we're in it for the long haul."