An apartment project planned for Greenville Commons has cleared a major hurdle.

The Greenville City Council unanimously approved rezoning of 21 acres along Paul Stabler Drive from commercial to multi-family residential to pave the way for the potential project. The property is owned by Elba, Ala. based National Security Fire and Casualty Company.

“We are working diligently to try and get somebody to come in here and build some upscale apartments,” said Van McCall, who represented the company at Tuesday’s public hearing and city council meeting.

The apartments would be located near Walmart and The Edge, and McCall said he believes the apartments would aid in future development of the area.

“We’re hoping rooftops are going to put more people there, and people are going to put more businesses there and help to develop the property,” said McCall.

Greenville Mayor Dexter McLendon said similar developments have worked in other cities, such as Spanish Fort and Prattville.

“We’ve been talking for some time about the apartments,” McLendon said. “A lot of cities are doing that where they have apartments out there and they have doctors’ offices, Walmart and that sort stuff in the same area. These apartments are going to enhance this piece of property.”

City officials are also hoping the addition of the apartments will lead to future construction in the area, which is already home to restaurants, a church that meets in the movie theater and doctors’ offices.

“I hope apartments do go in that area because it’s going to give people a place to live, and as they move out of those apartments, I hope they are going to build some houses in that area,” said McLendon.

McLendon said he had met with a developer from Birmingham that has expressed an interest in the property.