A change in city policy has allowed a potential student housing project to move forward, despite objections over plans to tear down a residence deemed historic by some.

A proposal by Chuck Bailey of Longmont-based Catamount Properties was stopped in its tracks in early 2012 when one of the homes standing in the project’s way was determined to be eligible for historic preservation.

The development would consist of five three-story buildings with between 10 and 14 units per building, resulting in more than 100 new beds for CSU students.

At the time, there was no way to appeal a decision of historic preservation eligibility and the planning commission denied the developer’s request. His effort at an appeal before the City Council also failed.

But the city’s rules have since changed, now allowing for appeals concerning historic designation, and in October, the city’s Historic Preservation Commission overturned the original decision, declaring that the home at 1305 S. Shields was not, after all, eligible for historic preservation. That cleared the way for the development, to be called Carriage House Apartments.

The property was once home to William Carlson, who served as