PORT ORCHARD — With the first turning of dirt, Housing Kitsap celebrated the start of Sherman Ridge in Port Orchard, its newest affordable homeownership neighborhood since 1996.

The groundbreaking ceremony July 12 at the corner of Sherman Avenue and Melcher Street was the official unveiling of 27 lots for the neighborhood, which is the first Housing Kitsap-developed self-help neighborhood since 1996.

Sherman Ridge is part of an affordable homeownership program, Mutual Self-Help Housing, where homebuyers build their own homes and can apply their sweat equity toward their down payment.