The developers behind a long talked about apartment and retail tower, to be built on the park site in front of Edmonton's Hotel Macdonald, have received approval to go ahead with the project.

The developer behind a new vision for a site near south Edmonton's Century Park LRT Station said Monday that construction is now underway to build an 18-storey residential tower there.

City councillors approved a large development Monday that they hope will become a template for transit-oriented development in Edmonton.