Hampton, Va. - Since 2013, construction crews have been cleaning up the now closed Lincoln Park Apartment complex.
“Memories, memories, memories,” Lamar Sanders, who lives across from the complex, said. “I was out there --- basketball court. Memories out there. Kids growing up.”
But for some residents, memories of the 40-year-old building aren't so great.
“When I lived over there, it was drug infested, roach infested, sewers,” Preicalla Matthews said. “People getting killed. It just won`t what it was supposed to be.”
But after a recent announcement, many in the community hope that`s all a thing of the past.
“A change coming. A change for the community coming,” Sanders said.
Earlier today, the Hampton Redevelopment and Housing Authority announced plans to implode the public housing high-rise next Sunday. Not everyone thinks it's a good idea.
“I don`t think it`s a good thing to tear down the building,” Alice Johnson, who’s lived in the area since the 1990s, said.
Once HRHA demolishes the building, it will construct a new facility, with plans to open in 2019.
“I think it`ll be a good thing, long as people respect their self and respect their community and respect where they come from,” Matthews said.
Officials say they hope this project will encourage reinvestment in other surrounding properties.
