Local developer Robert Korff has modified his plans to raze the block of buildings at the corner of Washington and Walnuts streets in Newtonville to build a 151-unit apartment and retail complex after hearing from neighbors at a community meeting last month.

Korff met with Newtonville residents again recently, and outlined changes that include his purchase of the Sunoco gas station on Washington Street and four multifamily homes on Washington Terrace, just behind the Sunoco station.

In addition, he has reduced the proposed height of the building from six stories at its highest to five stories.

“We’ve had two well-attended community meetings, and numerous individual meetings with tenants, abutters, and community leaders,’’ Korff said in a text message on Wednesday. “There have been a lot of positive suggestions, and we have made significant changes including reducing the height.’’

Korff said he remains committed to working with the community and city government “to develop a project that Newtonville can be proud of.’’

Other changes to Korff’s original proposal include widening the outside plaza from 25 to 40 feet, adding significant landscaping, creating approximately 2,000 square feet of indoor community space, and separating the fronts of the Washington Street and Walnut Street buildings into two separate buildings.

The plans still include building a mixed-use development with stores, offices, a restaurant, and 151 one- and two-bedroom apartments, 26 of which would be set aside as affordable. There would be underground parking for around 190 tenants’ cars, and surface parking for 93 cars.

The development would replace the eight buildings at the corner of Washington and Walnut streets that now house several businesses — including Karoun Restaurant, Boston Ballet School, and Newtonville Camera — and approximately 10 second-floor apartments, eight of which Korff said are now occupied.

His most recent purchase also includes four multifamily homes that have tenants.

Korff plans to formally file plans with the city this spring, and the review process is expected to take about a year, according to Korff’s attorney, Stephen Buchbinder.

The project will need a special permit from the City Council, which is only granted with approval of 16 of the 24 members.

Ellen Ishkanian can be reached at eishkanian@gmail.com.