The proposed Bella Vista condo tower, on Federal Hill near Route 95, had to duck a bit — from its original 33 floors down to 25 — to get city approval to buy space under Bradford Street for the underground portion of its parking garage. Twenty-five stories still seems too tall for Federal Hill. Maybe over time more floors will be conveniently lopped off.

Leaving aside that endless obstacles ought not hinder permitting in Providence, developer Frank Zammiello seems unfazed by any elongation of the process. Indeed, delay seems to fit into his schedule, letting him ride out the presumably overbuilt, underperforming condo market in Providence.

Notwithstanding its height, we like his proposal’s neo-Italianate design, with an arch over Bradford Street and a heavy cornice at the roofline, wherever it ends up. And its luxurious accoutrements might even help attract Federal Hill’s expat community home from Johnston, North Providence and other refuges of recent decades (possibly including Florida, where the developer also has interests and spends time). Residents could dine at Camille’s Roman Garden next door — bought by Mr. Zammiello in 2001, the same year a private jet he owned ferried four Saudi Arabians related to Osama bin Laden — on Sept. 14 — from T.F. Green Airport to Paris. (Who says Green’s landing strip isn’t long enough?)

In 1986, Mr. Zammiello and relatives spent $6 million to secure a pretrial release for his friend and sometime business partner, Mob boss Raymond “Junior” Patriarca.

Anyhow, we believe that Mr. Zammiello’s building should be shorter, and he may believe this editorial should be, too. Either way, Federal Hill is more about tall tales than tall buildings.