CROWN POINT | After five forums where Mayor David Uran listened to resident's views about a proposed development at the southeast corner of Summit Street and Broadway, he announced Tuesday night that he has heard those views loud and clear.

"This horse has left the barn," Uran said, gesturing to the presentation detailing the project on two screens behind him. "This project to me is dead."

The city scheduled forums to discuss the proposed development, The Preserve at Beacon Hill, valued at $81.9 million. The development was scheduled to include 572 apartments, 34,300 square feet of retail space and two commercial outlots adjacent to the Beacon Hill shopping center.

Jeff Ban, the project's engineer, told residents at Tuesday's meeting he would only speak briefly about the project because he didn't "want to spend too much time talking about a development that seems like it won't be approved."

Ban said the development team wants to create a project that is supported by the community, City Council and mayor, and has heard from the community that this project doesn't fit that description. He said a new project from the group will be presented sometime in the future.

After the meeting, Councilwoman Laura Sauerman said she was surprised at the mayor's announcement, but she hadn't attended all of the forums to hear residents' sentiment behind the mayor's thought process.

Uran said when he announced the forums that they would give him a feel for how residents felt about the project. After the five forums, he said he sees about 70 percent of people against the project, and therefore he can't support the project.

Because of the mayor's announcement, the forum Thursday at SS. Peter and Paul Church, 9700 Broadway, has been canceled.

The development, which was recommended for approval by the Plan Commission, still is on Monday's City Council agenda.

After the mayor's announcement, he discussed apartments in general with the audience to hear what residents wanted in the community. Ideas were thrown out such as a large park and an indoor water park, but as far as residential developments were concerned, residents said they weren't interested in apartments.

"You're saying if you want to move to Crown Point, we want you to be owner-occupied," Uran asked a woman in the audience.

She, and those around her, responded by nodding their heads.