The Boston Redevelopment Authority has approved Portland, Ore.-based developer Gerding Edlen’s plans for an all-new 16-story residential tower in East Boston.

The updated plans call for demolition of a nine-story vacant warehouse and construction of a 16-story residential building on the 4-acre site at 26 New St. in the Jeffries Point section.

The previous plans called for rehabilitation of the lower nine floors of the building with a seven-story addition. Structural engineers recommended an all-new building on the same footprint, BRA spokesman Nicholas Martin said.

Designed by ADD Inc., the 242,615-square-foot building will include 223 studio, one-bedroom and two-bedroom apartments. The project will include a new public walkway between New Street and the Boston Harborwalk and a new dock for water taxis.

The Jeffries Point neighborhood has attracted renewed interest from developers since the recession with its abundance of underutilized industrial parcels on Boston Harbor. Roseland Property Co.’s $65-million Portside at East Pier, containing 175 apartments next to Maverick station on the MBTA’s Blue Line, opened in November.