Posted on 03/25/2015 9:08:47 AM PDT by E. Pluribus Unum
A long and contentious chapter in High Point’s history came to an end Tuesday when the Planning and Zoning Commission approved renaming Kivett Drive for Martin Luther King Jr.
The commission voted 7-1 to rename the 5-mile road for the late civil rights leader, and for the change to take effect by Jan. 1, 2016.
“A lot of courage was shown tonight, and hopefully, you will go back and tell all the citizens that history was made tonight,” commission Chairman Andy Putnam told supporters of the renaming who were in attendance for the vote.
Supporters — including Mary Lou Blakeney, who, as a teenager in High Point in 1960, helped organize the nation’s first Civil Rights Movement sit-in by high school students — were elated.
“Thank you for forward thinking. Thank you so much for representing us,” Blakeney told the commission.
High Pointer and former Guilford County Commissioner Bruce Davis, told the board, “You have made a bold move.”
For 25 years, various groups and individuals sought unsuccessfully to rename a High Point street for King.
City Council in January sought to bring the issue to a resolution when it applied to rename Kivett Drive. The city’s ordinance gives the commission the power to approve street name changes.
For a time during Tuesday’s proceedings, it appeared the controversy surrounding the issue would continue.
After some commissioners voiced concerns that part of the city’s history would be lost by removing the Kivett name from the street, Commissioner Mark Walsh made a motion to name the street for King west of Interstate 74 and maintain it as Kivett Drive from I-74 to Business Interstate 85.
Supporters of the renaming groaned a collective “no” to the idea, and, when no one seconded Walsh’s motion, Commissioner Ed Squires made a competing motion to rename the entire street, from W. English Road to Business Interstate 85.
Squires’ motion was seconded by Commissioner Jim Armstrong and supported by Putnam and Walsh, along with commissioners Tom Kirkman, John McKenzie and Marie Stone.
Commissioner Ozzie Hough voted in opposition.
Walsh explained that he supported renaming the whole street all along but had offered his motion as a compromise when it appeared some of his colleagues were reluctant to remove the Kivett name.
The commission asked that the Kivett name be included in small lettering on new signage under the street’s new name, which will be Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard.
It will be up to City Council to approve this.
In a separate matter, the commission unanimously approved renaming College Drive to University Parkway.
High Point University representatives said the move would provide a needed update to reflect the institution’s current name, and they also lent their support to the MLK case.
“Choosing Kivett is not an expedient or easy decision to make, yet we believe, at this time, it is the right decision to make, and it will stand as a symbol that Dr. King’s legacy shines bright here in High Point,” said HPU Director of Service Learning Joe Blosser.
Only one person spoke against the renaming — Neil Aberman, who owns a furniture business and a marble and tile company on Kivett Drive, and said it would cost him more than $150,000 to reproduce all of his marketing materials to reflect an address change.
“It’s disappointing that there was not a greater turnout of people that live and own property on Kivett Drive. I wanted to hear from those people,” said Hough.
Stone said the fact that 14 organizations, including HPU, the High Point Chamber of Commerce and the High Point Convention & Visitors Bureau, passed resolutions in support of the MLK renaming, made an impression on her.
“I really wrestled with this question for a couple of months, because I feel for the property owners,” she said. “But there’s so much support for it … I think it’s marvelous.”
Rosa Parks Blvd: You might stop here for takeout at the local deli.
Martin Luther King Blvd: You stop at signals, but keep the doors locked.
Malcom X Blvd: Warp speed, Mr. Sulu!
"You see that place...you see that sign that say "Rib Tips?""
Pitiful
A panacea for a collapsed demographic
Cogent
What town in the South doesn’t have a MLK Blvd, St. or Road? Our town threw up one of those green type banner signs on one of the streets coming into town but they didn’t officially change the name on any of the other signs and no one calls it anything but it’s original name. Apparently that was enough to appease certain people. What business wants to spend all the money it takes to change all their stationary, forms, checks, envelopes etc.
You have that completely correct, sadly.
wanna go get some ribs?
I just noticed that some towns went genius and named a road after MLK early on but in an area that a a person would have to go out of their way to get to, not even a minor artery.
Safety issues aside, I would presume that there are a number of businesses along this route. Is the City Council going to reimburse the owners for the expenses they will incur as a result of having to change their street name on all their printed and on-line documents, records and advertising or their future insurance costs which are likely to increase just because of their new street name?
Must be a trend...several cities...my own included...are being pushed to rename streets...we had a main thoroughfare named for a local person...has been for a loooong time. This group organizes...wants it to be renamed...the council was going to name a new street art MLK ...but caved and renamed the one...and promptly had to pay for every property owner to redo their address...
Wait til Jan 2017.
There will be Baraq Boulevards popping up all over America.
Along with making Aug 4th B. Hussein Obama Birthday and End of Ramadan a national holiday.
An interesting study would be to see how the crime escalates or decreases along the highway after the naming. My money is on escalation.
Property values just went down 30% on Kivett Drive.
Barack Hussein Obama Blvd: GTFO! NOW!!!!
Maybe now they can put a Starbucks on it.
Man... could you imagine putting a house on the market on the street, only to have it change to MLK Jr. Blvd? What could kill property values more?
BTW... always beware of properties in neighborhoods ending in “Terrace,” “Gardens” and “Court.”
You think these guys know the Commodores ?
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