THE WESTMINSTER CROSSING proposal.

What might be considered the birth of a new downtown won final approval from the Westminster City Council on Wednesday night. The council voted 4-0 to approve the ordinance authorizing the three-story mixed-use project, which will include 65 affordable housing units.

Councilwoman Kimberly Ho abstained from voting since she owns property near the proposed project.

“Westminster Crossing” will be built at 7172-7140 Westminster Blvd. at Locust Street. The tenants would be working families and very-low income residents. Rent will range from $575 to $1700 a month. The building will have non-residential uses on the first floor.

The city’s revised general plan calls for an emphasis on mixed-use – combining residential with commercial construction and zoning – to help create part of a central core for the community stretching west from Goldenwest Street along Westminster Boulevard to Springdale Street.

The next meeting of the Westminster City Council is scheduled for Wednesday, March 13.