B’nai B’rith Housing has proposed building 79 new condominiums atop street-level retail space on a city-owned parking lot at 28 Austin St. in Newtonville.

The Brighton-based developer, which has already developed the 33Comm condos in Newton’s Chestnut Hill neighborhood, responded to a city request for development proposals for the surface lot with a plan for a single building containing one- and two-bedroom units, 85 public parking spaces and approximately 6,800 square feet of ground-floor retail.

All of that will extend Newtonville’s commercial district, according to a statement from the developer.

"Our proposal is positive for Newton and the neighborhood because we worked to make sure it includes all of the attributes that city planners and neighbors said they wanted, in addition to a number of other amenities," Susan Gittelman, executive director of B’nai B’rith, said in the statement.

The Austin Street condos and stores would fill in "a longstanding gap" in one of Newton’s neighborhoods and provide housing for those seeking "an ownership alternative to single family homes," according to the housing developer.

B’nai B’rith’s submission included a letter of support from 50 Newton residents, the company stated. If the company’s proposal is selected, construction could begin in 2014.