Doug McDaniel lives across the street from Brownlow school.

"Oh it's a great building," said McDaniel.

It has not been used as a school since 1996, and residents say in recent years it has deteriorated.

"The neighborhood is losing patience," said McDaniel.

It was sold to a developer several years ago. In 2004 there was a plan to renovate the building into condos, but about a year ago Brownlow was sold again.

"I think it's frustrating for a lot of people. It's such an important fixture within the Fourth and Gill and Old North community," said McDaniel.

McDaniel says the building has not always been secure, and some people have taken advantage of that.

"You can see there's some graffiti. There's also been some illicit activity," said McDaniel.

The building's owner, Brian Conley, says demolition work has already begun inside Brownlow to turn the old school into about 35 condos. He says plans for condos made under the building's previous owner are now being modified.

Conley says construction will get fully underway starting this spring, not a day too soon for Brownlow's neighbors.

"Yeah, it's very important to us, and we don't want to see it demolished by neglect, and we hope that it will be a great project," said McDaniel.

The building's owner says he expects the condos to be finished in the spring of 2008.