Suzanne Kreiter/globe staff

Anne Clancy, a life-long resident of Boston public housing who just moved into a new unit "with a great view,” watched the ribbon cutting ceremony for the new Homes at Old Colony on March 20.

The Boston Globe/file 2007

In July 2007, friends and neighbors gathered around a memorial for Alberto Duarte, 24, who was gunned down in a courtyard on East Ninth Street in the Old Colony project.

david L. ryan/globe staff/ file 1997

Aerial view of the Old Colony housing project in its former days.

Suzanne Kreiter/globe staff

The new look Old Colony was unveiled during a ribbon cutting and grand opening ceremony for the first new building.

The Boston Globe

Youths played baseball in front of the Old Colony projects off Columbia Road.

Suzanne Kreiter/globe staff

Children from the Michael J. Perkins Elementary School performed songs for the crowd at the Old Colony grand opening.

Suzanne Kreiter/globe staff

One of the new streets at the Homes at Old Colony was named after James A. O'Neill Sr., a 30-year resident of the project. His wife, Patricia, in wheelchair, his niece Angie Weeks, left, and one of his sons Daniel, 11, listened to the opening ceremony program.

Suzanne Kreiter/globe staff

Checking out a model unit at Old Colony were Aissata Camara, left, and Aracelly Tyrell, residents of the older building in the project.