There's still work I need to do to make it better

The Courier-Journal's Dale Moss checks in on New Albany Community Housing's innovative Linden Meadows project today and the very positive report further proves the concept that creative thinking in conjunction with hard work lead to opportunity, in this case a chance to better one's self and community through homeownership.

11 homes in the project have already been sold, according to Moss, with many more on the way as the development, which both saves historic homes from the landfill and provides investment opportunities for those who may otherwise lack them, continues to mature into what the C-J's headline refers to as a neighborhood reborn.

As CHDO Executive Director John Miller astutely observes in the article,"You can't beat reusing homes. That's the smartest growth there is."

Beyond the far-reaching implications of Miller's comment, though, I was struck by the attitude of the new homeowner featured in the story, Jeffrey Lane.

"It's a good situation for the ones that can get into it," he said. "There's still work I need to do to make it better. That will come in time."

It's that attitude, a willingness to take a chance and the belief that one's own work can make a difference in turning a calculated risk into a life changing proposition, is the foundation upon which New Albany itself will be reborn. It's no surprise that some in the community-- those whose self-imagined importance are threatened by higher standards-- choose to fight people like Jeffrey Lane, but it's damn gratifying to see him winning.

Thank you to those, many of whom are mentioned in the article, for helping someone to succeed. An even bigger thank you, though, is reserved for Jeffrey Lane for realizing that, as important as buying a house is, it's only the first step in being a good neighbor and citizen. Welcome to the neighborhood.