MANCHESTER — What was once a blight on the neighborhood has been transformed into a place that offers homeless veterans a chance to rebuild their lives.

The Hanover and Hall Project at 455 Hanover St. is the latest veterans housing project in Manchester and a joint effort with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, The Way Home, the city and Elm Grover Properties.

On Wednesday, the project partners unveiled the newly renovated property on the corner of Hanover and Hall with a ribbon-cutting ceremony. There were more than two dozen people there to celebrate the new apartment complex, including representatives from Sens. Jeanne Shaheen and Kelly Ayotte’s offices and Rep. Frank Guinta’s office. Members of the Board of Aldermen, Mayor Ted Gatsas and other city officials were also there.

That the ceremony was held on the 70th anniversary of the bombing of Pearl Harbor was no coincidence.

“As a Vietnam veteran, I’m happy to see people in Manchester are looking at the veterans and the homeless,” said Alderman At-Large Mike Lopez.

Newton Kershaw of Elm Grove Properties, noted that the renovations at 455 Hanover end the property’s checkered past.

“This project has a long history. In the past it was not one that’s been glorious,” said Kershaw. “The city and we hope it has a long, glorious history in the future.”

The apartment building gained notoriety last summer after its previous owner racked up more than $60,000 in city fines for failing for months to fix numerous code violations and hazards. The property went into foreclosure and Elm Grove Properties purchased 455 Hanover St. in December 2010. With broken windows, trash in common areas and damaged electrical wires, both the neighborhood and the city were looking to Elm Grove Properties to breath new life into the location.

Today, the freshly refurbished apartments barely resemble the shabby tenement building it once was. White paint brightens the central stairwell and fresh carpets line the floors of nearly every room. There are new bathrooms, kitchen appliances and energy-efficient windows throughout the three-story buildings.

Tracey Noonan of Veterans Affairs, said the nine veterans and their families who have moved in or a set to are selected based on need and are given housing vouchers to fund a portion of rent. There were nine vouchers awarded to the project and 15 more for other homes, said Noonan. But more is needed, she said.

“I have over 100 on the list waiting for those,” she said. “The need always exceeded the resource.”

Besides offering housing, the VA and The Way Home will also offer case management and clinical services.