Help: my cat is OBSESSED with going outside

Looking for suggestions on what else we can do to get my cat to stop begging to go outside.

He is about 3 years old and was adopted from a shelter. Since we adopted him, he has been very fixated on going outside. We bought him a harness and leash and usually take him outside to walk once a day. We can't let him out on his own because we live in an apartment complex in town.

He has a cat tree where he can see out a window that he loves, but he has gotten to where when the sun goes down he paces from it to the door and almost howls at the door. For a while, I tried just ignoring him but he doesn't care and continues meowing for hours. Eventually he started clawing at the door. I put sticky paws up and he clawed it off.

We tried spraying him with water when he goes to the door, but he just gets angry, walks away, then circles around and goes right back to the door.

When someone comes in the door, just putting your foot out usually isn't enough; he'll jump over it to get out.

We have tried playing with him to distract him but when he gets in the mood to go outside he doesn't care for any of the toys he usually loves.

We ordered some "ssscat" (which blows a puff of air anytime he gets close to the door) but I'm afraid it won't phase him or that'll he'll quickly realize he can get past it still.

Does anyone else have any suggestions that might help? We're getting desperate as listening to him meow and claw/scratch at the door for hours on end has started to drive me insane.

EDIT: I forgot to mention that he is neutered.

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