The Ann Arbor City Council voted 8-3 tonight in favor of a revised version of the Heritage Row apartments proposal in an effort to stop the demolition of seven century-old homes.

Eight votes are required to approve the 85-unit project when it comes back for final approval next Monday, and tonight's vote is an early indication that it might happen.

The project fell one vote short of approval last year, but some council members are rethinking their position in order to stop another development approved for the same site — the controversial City Place project, which would knock down the seven homes.

Council Members Carsten Hohnke and Mike Anglin, both representatives of the 5th Ward, changed their votes from last year and came out in favor of Heritage Row tonight.

Sabra Briere, D-1st Ward, and Stephen Kunselman, D-3rd Ward, maintained their opposition to the project, while Marcia Higgins, D-4th Ward, who supported the original Heritage Row proposal last year, changed her vote and opposed the project tonight.

Ryan J. Stanton covers government and politics for AnnArbor.com. Reach him at ryanstanton@annarbor.com or 734-623-2529. You also can follow him on Twitter or subscribe to AnnArbor.com's e-mail newsletters.