Fayetteville transforming crime-ridden housing complexes into sought-after homes

"I wouldn't bring my daughter down here," resident Gwen Locklear said, recalling how Campbell Terrace was overrun by drugs, crime and violence. "You come in the daytime, and you left before it got dark."

Locklear and others who moved into the new homes say the city turned what used to be considered "the hood" into a neighborhood.

"We're living in the lap of luxury, so to speak, compared to what it was," said Locklear, one of 48 residents who live in a special complex designed for seniors. "It's been nothing but just a 100 percent improvement of this place. Back in the day, people was trying to get out of it. ... Now, they're on a waiting list to get back in."

Mayor Mitch Colvin said crime and violence in the area are down as residents gained a sense of pride in their homes.