Three years of construction on the Terrace Apartments in Raleigh Court didn't give Total Action Against Poverty many headaches. But it taught the Roanoke nonprofit's staff how to listen.

Angela Penn, TAP vice president of development, noted that communication with residents helped the group successfully redesign the low- and middle-income complex. The 58-year-old buildings now have central air, open kitchen layouts, extra cabinets and storage space because of residents' requests.

About 35 people involved in the administration, construction, design and financing of the project -- along with a few residents -- gathered in the shady courtyard of Terrace's building No. 3 on Wednesday morning to celebrate the completed renovations.

"It takes a village to raise a child, and it takes a world to put together a project like this," TAP President Ted Edlich said from the makeshift podium.

This is TAP's first housing development venture, Penn said.

She passed a ukulele-sized, gold-painted key from contractors to property administrators. It symbolized the end of the $27 million renovation phase and the beginning of full operation for the 33-block properties across the street from Ghent Grace Brethren Church and its neon "Jesus Saves" sign.

The ceremony was symbolic, too -- some of the seven pastel-painted buildings have had occupants for more than a year. About 97 percent of the complex's spacious 187 units have residents now, she said.

On Wednesday, guests could tour two three-bedroom, two-bathroom apartments: the first furnished; the other a two-story unit with the original stairwell incorporated inside butter cream-colored building No. 3.

The complex in Southwest Roanoke divides into two sections, Terrace North and Terrace South, hemmed in by Wasena Avenue, Maiden Lane, Dunmore Street and Evergreen Burial Park. General contractor J.M. Turner & Co. directed renovations in the four buildings in the north complex first. Contractor R.L. Price Construction completed the projects in Terrace South, and the last building earned its certificate of occupancy in September, Penn said.

The one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments rent for $360 to $570 a month to families making 40 percent to 50 percent below the area's median income.

The renovation project brightened a living space that had fallen into disrepair.

The glass and concrete block apartment complex, first named the Roanoke Apartments, was the largest in the city when built, according to TAP. Working class families and World War II veterans called them home, and many refugees from overseas moved there subsequently.

"I've been in the apartments before TAP took them over, and they were in desperate shape -- oh my goodness, yes," said Susan Koch, 62, president of the Greater Raleigh Court Civic League. "This was a vast improvement."

TAP bought the apartments from H&H Properties for $3.55 million in April 2005. The nonprofit drummed up federal and state funding through loans, historic tax credits and low-income housing tax credits.

The organization approached the Wasena and Greater Raleigh Court neighborhood councils at the start of the project to ask for support, Penn said.

"It's a good thing that Raleigh Court has quality, diverse housing," Koch said. "That's what makes Raleigh Court interesting."