PORTSMOUTH — The Historic District Commission gave its blessing to a four-story, mixed-use condominium project on Bridge Street Tuesday night, nearly a year after it was first proposed.

The condominium complex, on the corner of Islington and Bridge streets, would be an addition to the former Portsmouth Bookshop building at 7 Islington St.

It would extend to 40 Bridge St., where an old building would be torn down to make room for the residential, office and retail condominiums.

Portsmouth architect Steven McHenry, who presented the plans to the HDC, said the new building will house six residential condominiums, two office condos and a single retail space.

McHenry said he will now bring the project before the Technical Advisory Committee before going to the Planning Board for site plan review.

McHenry said owner Steve Kelm has no plans to build the project, but will wait for the approvals and gauge the market before proceeding with the condominium project, which would face the municipal parking lot on Bridge Street.

The HDC voted 6-1 in favor of the project despite objections from abutters on Tanner Street — a neighborhood facing the back side of the condominiums.

Rebecca Conway, of 37 Tanner St., told the HDC she had concerns regarding the "size and the scale" of the condominiums, stating they would be "towering over us."

Deliberations on a five-story hotel proposed at 68 State St., another Kelm project, were tabled by the HDC until next April 11 so the architect for that project could prepare a new artist's rendering.