* Mike Grant WTHI Monday, 19 Jul 2010

BICKNELL, Ind. (WTHI) - A southern Indiana community goes from demolition to new construction in a neighborhood project.

The Crossroads neighborhood in Bicknell has a half dozen vacant lots where blighted properties have been removed.

Now, community leaders have broken ground on the first of several new apartments and homes.

Those are part of the total $1.3 million project.

"It's very exciting," said Amy Fehrenbacher. "We've been working for over a year getting the groundwork in place so we're finally able to break ground today and start building some duplexes and homes in the neighborhood."

"I think this is going to be the greatest thing that Bicknell has had in the last, quite a while," said Mayor Jon Flickinger.

Officials say they still have more blighted properties they expect to bring down.

They plan to demolish at least three of them over the next couple of weeks.