Cooperative Endeavors Net Positive Results

On Friday last a heretofore rare occurrence took place. Due to the combined and willing efforts of the Historic Landmarks Foundation, the neighborhood associations of Uptown, East Spring Street, Sue Ellen Jones, Silver Grove, the New albany Board of Works, and a host of volunteers (including some from Jeffersonville, Sellersburg & Clarksville), the home at 1746 Ekin Avenue in New Albany got a new lease on life.

This property was on the city's demolition list with but a few weeks remaining when Dave Sekula of the HLFI tracked down the owner, proposed to him that Landmarks purchase the home from him, assist him in clearing his personal property out of it and put in on the market as a salvageable property as opposed to another vacant lot of weeds in our city.

The owner agreed to the deal, the city agreed to give HLFI a grace period to make it happen, and Dave started asking for volunteers.

On Friday May 4th at 9:30 AM in spite of the rain and it being a workday for many of us, a small army from all around our area assembled and went to work. By the end of the long day the house was empty, the owners personal belongings were in storage, a dumpster was full to the brim, and a group of tired folks took a step back to proudly view their collective efforts.

Many of these people had no direct connection to this issue... or did they? Have we possibly reached a point wherein we realize that our "Neighborhood" extends beyond our privacy fence or the house two doors down. We can only hope that this experience can and will be repeated all over New Albany, Floyd County, and ultimately Southern Indiana & beyond.

The small flame has been lit and I encourage us all to fan the fire until it grows to blazing proportions.

To all of those volunteers who gathered this past weekend to strike that match, I say well done and THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!!