I got an email alerting me that the mayors office wants to change the name of W 1st street in Springfield to Reverand Henry Rhim Blvd. What the hell?
Any idea of how long the segment would be and how much it would cost to change the name of various street signs? I'd suggest an alternative of taking that amount of money, investing it in doing something inside of the green space lining Hogans Creek and name that after Rhim. It would be a more fitting memorial because it would help enhance a that will benefit the surrounding community.
It is a pretty short segment (Main to Jefferson I believe)....and this will just be an alternate name...lots of streets in lots of communities have more than 1 name
One major problem with the proposed name change is that it will impact part of the Springfield Historic District (a National Register Historic District at that). Contact both the HPC office and the Mayor's office to express your opinion related to the name change.
I googled Rev. Henry Rhim and the only references I found about him was the fact that he is the Mayor's pastor. I don't mind naming streets for important historical people, preferably those who have had an impact on Jacksonville's history, but I don't know that the mayor naming a street for his pastor is something he should be proposing, especially in a historical district.
we should not start the trend of changing streetnames in or near historic districts. I like the numbered streets just fine.
Not good.
Alvin! Put his name on the church if it is so important to you. What an incredible waste of time, this has to go through 2 committees and pass city council. Why exactly does this guy deserve a street named after him, anyway? I might support this if the Reverend can clean up the park or keep his congregation from parking in the park. What next a street named after your wife?
(http://gallery.myspringfield.org/photos/i-f3N5CxT/0/M/i-f3N5CxT-M.png)
Credit: http://www.myspringfield.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=19&t=2286 (http://www.myspringfield.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=19&t=2286)
Quote from: fsujax on February 22, 2013, 04:03:41 PM
we should not start the trend of changing streetnames in or near historic districts. I like the numbered streets just fine.
Ever heard of Avenue of the Americas in NYC? If not, how about 6th Avenue...they are one and the same
Quote from: aubureck on February 22, 2013, 03:23:35 PM
One major problem with the proposed name change is that it will impact part of the Springfield Historic District (a National Register Historic District at that). Contact both the HPC office and the Mayor's office to express your opinion related to the name change.
This issue is going to be considered at the upcoming Historic Preservation Commission (HPC) meeting this Wednesday @ 3pm. Please send your thoughts & comments directly to Autmun Martinage, with COJ Historic Planning, at AMartina@coj.net and CC Mayor Brown at mayorbrown@coj.net. The SPAR Design Review Committee will be objecting to the name change, as our numbered streets a genuine historic feature, are important to the continuity of the neighborhood, and are part Springfield's community fabric & identity.
Request the pastor to sponsor an Adopt-a-Road segment. He'll get his name on a sign just like Don Redman has on Belfort. Then have him, his congregation and Mayor Brown out on the road every month picking up litter and next year they can share an awards plaque at the Keep Jacksonville Beautiful shindig at City Hall.
^ Amen, Ralph!
Quote from: Ralph W on February 22, 2013, 10:28:00 PM
Request the pastor to sponsor an Adopt-a-Road segment. He'll get his name on a sign just like Don Redman has on Belfort. Then have him, his congregation and Mayor Brown out on the road every month picking up litter and next year they can share an awards plaque at the Keep Jacksonville Beautiful shindig at City Hall.
I love this post . lol . Good one , Ralph !! :)
You are a very wise man, Ralph. I agree with you 100%.
tufsu1, as we understand it, this is not an "alternate name" but an actual name change. While some people may always call it 1st Street, it would not actually BE 1st Street any longer. I know people who still call MLK the 20th Street Expressway, but that is no longer its name.
From reading the church's website, Pastor Rhim sounds like a worthy man, but is he more worthy than others? There are so many churches in Jacksonville with worthy pastors, men and women, most known mainly to their congregations. Should we rename part of Beaver Street for Mac Brunson of First Baptist Church? He's a good man. How about renaming part of University Boulevard North for my pastor? Also a good man. St. Josephs could name a building, room or chapel on their church campus after Pastor Rhim to honor him. The whole congregation would always remember and honor him, and it would not affect others with no relation to St. Josephs.
Changing a street to give it the name of a pastor connected so closely to the mayor, even if he seems "worthy" is a bad idea. Messing with mailing addresses and the associated costs, meeting legal burdens etc so Mayor Brown can high five his friend is a waste of time and money. Not only is it costly, the "citizens" and "businesses" would have to change all of their personal information connected to anything requiring a legal address. I don't think any of them want to deal with that mess.
Jacksonville has had many a heroic person in our history, most of whom have received nothing in the way of real recognition for how they changed Jacksonville for the betterment of everyone here. This type of recognition should mean something beyond immortalizing the name of a single pastor in a town full of pastors because he "knows" the mayor. Lord have mercy, just imagine how many more will feel snubbed and want a street or building named after them.
So I guess the mayor is part of that GOB network we keep hearing about? Because this sounds exactly like something they'd try to do.
I think we should collect funds to build them a small new town in some Florida swampland & let all these guys run it. Let them stick to that small town mentality where they all appoint one another, give each other high fives for jobs well done, name stuff after their buddies & let all the developers have a field day with their shiny new town, instead of running a major city into the ground.
Quote from: Debbie Thompson on February 24, 2013, 06:32:27 PM
tufsu1, as we understand it, this is not an "alternate name" but an actual name change.
well in that case, I would be opposed
Can't they just build a monument, like they did on A. Phillip Randolph for Pat Lockett-Felder. I'm sure a church congregation would be happy to waste $9K or more. Or maybe Alvin can personally pay for it, if they're such good friends. Officially changing the name is stupid.
I am still waiting for someone to crash into that stupid PLF monument.
Dear Mayor Brown,
No matter what an individual has accomplished, there has to be a better way to acknowledge that accomplishment than changing street names. Street names provide a cohesiveness and continuity to a community. Carving out pieces of them makes it difficult for visitors to find their way, deliveries to be made, map searches to be accurate, etc. There is a financial cost involved (and we are supposed to be in a frugal, not frivolous budget mode) as well as a historic one. The history of street names is even more important in our national historic districts. We want to retain our history. All of it. Name a small bridge for this person. Put up a statue. Declare it “whatever name†day each year. But leave our street names alone, please.
Did anything interesting happen on this at the HPC today?
HPC recommended denial.
We rallied the community in a short amount of time, and over 40 emails were sent in opposition. Myself and another neighborhood representive spoke/opposed in-person, while the Mayor's office had a representative speak in favor.
Not sure if the Mayor's office will pursue this further...they could take it before City Council.
Thanks to all who took a moment to send in their thoughts.
Good deal. I don't think the mayor will go to council with it after the HPC recommendation of denial. Thanks for the update Bill.
That's great, Bill. Good hustle; please keep us updated if this issue slips onto the City Council agenda...
What's going on with the section of Klutho Park on West 1st Street, just SW of Hogans Creek? It looks pretty nice!
(http://photos.metrojacksonville.com/Development/Urban-Construction-02-2013/i-3LwHjRH/0/M/P1610548-M.jpg)
Good job Bill!
Good job Springfield!
(http://i860.photobucket.com/albums/ab165/sheclown/namechangeemails_zps41506b0e.jpg)
Can't place that piece in my mind exactly, but Project New Ground has been working in Klutho Park near the creek replacing contaminated soil. And some trees have been planted in Klutho Park recently too.
I don't understand why you would name something after someone who is still alive. Their story is not over yet and you don't know how they might screw up their legacy after the dedication. Not speaking to this guy, just to the possibility. And I realize this is not a new practice, just wanted to convey a sentiment.
Council Gaffney has filed legislation (2013-0168) to proceed with the name change of W. 1st Street to "Reverend Henry T Rhim Boulevard".
To be introduced at Council Tuesday, 3/12/13.
http://myspringfield.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=19&t=2286&start=10
Not surprising. Gaffney has always been a "what's in it for me?" kind of guy. And is currently a "lame duck" councilperson (terming out) and so why would he care what the people who live here want? Never did before ...OK, only when there was something in it for him.
As the Mayor obviously wants this to happen, perhaps we should take a lesson from Dr. Gaffney and see "what's in it for us?"
It needs to be something big, sonething the Mayor's office will feel. How about giving us 9th and Main as a the Southern Rock Hall of Fame (brings money and more business to Main ST) and the funding to run it for a couple of years?
Afterall, what is a street worth?
Maybe the city can start auctioning off naming rights to streets. Might be a way to make some money. the high bidder would be responsible any and all costs of the actual name change, such a street signs, business cards, legal documents, and strife.
this is crazy. Lumb will introduce leglisation to rename Riverside Avenue Reverand Mac Brunson Avenue next.
This is pure foolishness. Clearly as already pointed out another "simple minded" attempt to give some sort of honor to a man because he is the friend of the Mayor. Nothing has changed with regard to the problems and costs such a change will incur, most specifically to the poor people who have residence's or businesses there.
Gaffney is showing yet again how the weak in character climb up the "favoritism" ladder. As someone already mentioned, let the mayor and others collect private funding to build him a little shrine somewhere on donated, private property. This is really too much and taking further time and energy of the legislature to deal with this stupidity is ridiculous.
This bill has been pulled from the 3.12.13 agenda.
Good news Bill. Enough of this silliness!
Executive order on the way? Can that happen?
That would be a stunt that would be just what Brown's opponents would love to see happen before the next election cycle. LOL It would start a firestorm and would not end up well for the mayor. That type of abuse of power would not be looked upon lightly by anyone. ;)
Quote from: Bill Hoff on March 08, 2013, 03:07:24 PM
This bill has been pulled from the 3.12.13 agenda.
super!