City officials are ready to take another swing at redeveloping 231-237 Pennsylvania Ave.

We hope the process is smoother this time around, because no one needs the acrimony that ended up derailing the development formerly known as the Hudson Project. After early approval by the City Council opposition grew over time to the point that the developers finally chose to end the project rather than fight a growing movement against their project.

One thing should be obvious. Low-income senior housing on the site is probably not going to be the future of this downtown parcel. Knowing that means there is a lot open to the imagination for the area. A new request for proposals by the city Redevelopment Authority is the start of that process.

We hope community residents who spoke loudly against the Hudson Project are engaged from the start of this new development process. Whatever the city and its partners pursue for Pennsylvania Avenue is going to need state and possibly federal support to move forward – and some of those state and federal partners don’t want to end up with egg on their face if another project that takes years to put together ends up falling apart. Such things happening once is embarrassing, but can be overcome. When it happens over and over again funding wells can suddenly go dry.

It’s important, then, for Warren and its chosen developer to put their best foot forward as this process begins again.

The last thing the city wants is to be known as the gang that can’t shoot straight.