Monday a sign went up on the site of the old Lowell school in the Jordan neighborhood of Minneapolis. Soon, fourteen single-family homes will go up as well.

The sign shows just what this new development will look like when it's done.

Project for Pride in Living is building a new development called Lowell Curve. The hope is that the homes will help revitalize the neighborhood. Executive director Steve Cramer says increasing home ownership is important here where more than half the homes are rented.

"I think our experience has been that homeowners tend to have a little more grounding in the community, get involved in National Night Out, maybe join the PTA if their kids are in school. just really stabilize a community," Cramer said.

The development on the two-acre site is actually phase two. Phase one included seventeen new homes in the surrounding neighborhood that were built and sold over the past two years.

Cramer said, "They all sold and those new homeowners all report being very happy to be here in Jordan."

One resident, who bought last year, calls her new home a true blessing. She's looking forward to getting new neighbors.

"I think it will build up the community more financially . just get some families, hard working people, to come in and bring a positive outlook," she said.

The homes have anywhere from two to five bedrooms and are between 1,000 to 1,600 finished square feet. Assistance is available to help people buy the homes. Cramer says the new homes will sell for anywhere between $180,000 to $220,000.

Cramer says, ultimately, the construction of these homes will mostly be paid for by the families who buy them. But some taxpayer dollars will also be used. "City and state funds will help make up the difference between what the home will sell to a buyer for and what it actually costs to build it. That might be a 30- or 40-thousand dollar gap."

The city will eventually get that back through property taxes and, the hope is, through a healthier neighborhood.

For more information on Lowell Curve and Project for Pride in Living, click here.