The council is expected to approve zoning changes that wouldallow the building variances in setback and height rules. Thechanges have been approved by the city's planning commission andrecommended by city staff.

Construction, however, won't start tomorrow, Carleton Rise,project manager for Hines, tells GlobeSt.com. "The next step is toget an architect on board and to figure this thing out a littlefurther because basically all we've got right now are very, veryconceptual plans," he says. "So we need to do a little A&E workand start marketing the project."

The project would call for demolishing the low-rise building atFifth and Congress and constructing the new building on that spot.The new building and the existing tower next door would beconnected by skybridges, Carleton says. When completed, "Theyshould function as one building and feel like one building." Thenew building would have office, parking and retail.