Central Nova News

The Alexandria City Council Naming Committee has recommended that the full Alexandria City Council change or rededicate the following street names in 2024: North Breckinridge Place, Forrest Street, North and South Jordan Street and Jordan Court, and North and South Early Street.

The Naming Committee voted unanimously, 3-0, to make the recommendation at a public hearing on Wednesday, November 29. The recommended actions are as follows:

Current name	Action to be taken	Future name
North Breckinridge Place	Renamed	In honor of Harriet Jacobs
Forrest Street	Renamed	Forest Street
North Jordan Street South Jordan Street Jordan Court	Rededicated or renamed	In honor of either: Thomasina Jordan (preference) Hughes family
North Early Street South Early Street	Rededicated or renamed	In honor of: James Early Charity Earley Early (time concept) Sarah A. Gray

Thomasina Jordan, James Early, and Charity Earley were suggestions from community members that the Naming Committee has asked the Historic Alexandria Resources Commission to further research before City Council votes. Each name received support in both a survey of affected residents and from individuals who came to speak at the committee’s public hearing.

“I’m thankful for the Naming Committee's work and the input received from our community on these proposals,” Mayor Justin Wilson said. “I look forward to the Council's discussion and action on these recommendations as we work to reckon with our past and ensure Alexandria is a welcoming community for all."

City Council will assess the Naming Committee’s recommendations and refine them into one specific proposal for each street on January 9, then vote on the proposals at an open public hearing on Saturday, January 20, at 9:30 a.m. in City Hall’s Council Chambers.

The identified streets, among others, were named for Confederate figures following an Alexandria ordinance passed in 1953 which ruled that all streets running North-South in the city should be named for Confederate officers. As part of its effort to foster a more inclusive community, City Council is beginning a 15-year process to rename or rededicate those roadways in a manner that creates the least disruption for residents and businesses.

If you prefer communication in another language, free interpretation and translation services are available to you, please email LanguageAccess@alexandriava.gov or call 703.746.3960.

Original source can be found here.