[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 5 (Tuesday, January 15, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E13]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           IN RECOGNITION OF LEON N. WEINER & ASSOCIATES INC.

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. MICHAEL N. CASTLE

                              of delaware

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, January 15, 2008

  Mr. CASTLE. Madam Speaker, it is my great pleasure to rise today in 
honor of Leon N. Weiner & Associates Inc. (LNW&AI), a company that for 
almost 60 years now has been accomplishing great feats and doing 
outstanding work for the housing industry in Delaware and surrounding 
areas. Today, I wish to call attention to a neighborhood renewal 
project this group championed. It positively impacted our community to 
such a degree that the readers of Affordable Housing Finance Magazine 
named it the Nation's best affordable homeownership development.
  Leon N. Weiner & Associates Inc. was presented with this prestigious 
award because they had the vision, drive, prowess and compassion to 
take an area in need of revitalization and transform it into a true 
community. Less than a decade ago the Wilmington, Delaware neighborhood 
now known as Eastlake was home to some of the highest per capita drug 
and crime rates in the nation. All of that has changed since LNW&AI 
came in with an innovative renewal plan to construct new homes at 
below-market rates for neighbors. While designing this community, 
LNW&AI was mindful of practicality, community, affordability, safety, 
and aesthetics--all of which help explain the program's great success. 
Through the work of LNW&AI and its project affiliates, the Village of 
Eastlake is now seeing an unprecedented influx of residents that are 
inspired and committed to bettering their community and future.
  I have long been a supporter of Leon N. Weiner & Associates Inc. Leon 
Weiner, whom I had the distinct privilege of knowing and working with 
while he was alive, founded the company in 1949 and made it a success. 
He recognized that people from every walk of life, regardless of 
economic circumstances, share a common need and dream of having a place 
to call home. His hard work and dedication to such a cause helped put 
thousands of people of modest incomes in homes. Furthermore, he 
established a rich philanthropic legacy within LNW&AI. Through my 
personal experiences with Leon's successors: Kevin Kelly and David 
Curtis, as well as the rest of the LNW&AI staff, I can assuredly say 
that Leon's legacy not only lives on, but thrives in the company today.
  Once again, I would like to recognize Leon N. Weiner & Associates 
Inc. Their work at the Eastlake community is remarkable and very 
deserving of Affordable Housing Finance Magazine's Reader's Choice 
Award. They are an invaluable asset to our community and I wish them 
all the best now and in the future.

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