Interstate Avenue name change study to proceed
PORTLAND, Ore. - Portland city commissioners voted Thursday to move ahead with a plan to study a possible name change for a main Portland roadway.
The vote Thursday will permit a study and solicit public input on the name change, which is controversial for both the choice of the road and the new proposed name.
The road in question is Interstate Avenue, and the proposed change would rename it for Hispanic civil rights activist Cesar Chavez.
Many business owners along Interstate Avenue, which is also known as Highway 99, say they are opposed to the name change, as it would require them to possibly change their business names, letterhead, advertisements and other facets of their business identities.
Backers of the proposition say renaming the street for Cesar Chavez would send a positive message to the young community and would honor a civil rights leader.
A recent Survey USA poll of 500 adults in the area conducted by KATU showed a large majority, 81 percent, are opposed changing the name of the street.
If the name change were to go through, it could take the city up to five years to make the change official.
Two public meetings will held in October to get public opinion on the name change proposal.
Highway 99 is called Interstate Avenue because at one time is was the main road (interstate) from Portland to Seattle before Interstate 5 was built.
The vote Thursday will permit a study and solicit public input on the name change, which is controversial for both the choice of the road and the new proposed name.
The road in question is Interstate Avenue, and the proposed change would rename it for Hispanic civil rights activist Cesar Chavez.
Many business owners along Interstate Avenue, which is also known as Highway 99, say they are opposed to the name change, as it would require them to possibly change their business names, letterhead, advertisements and other facets of their business identities.
Backers of the proposition say renaming the street for Cesar Chavez would send a positive message to the young community and would honor a civil rights leader.
A recent Survey USA poll of 500 adults in the area conducted by KATU showed a large majority, 81 percent, are opposed changing the name of the street.
If the name change were to go through, it could take the city up to five years to make the change official.
Two public meetings will held in October to get public opinion on the name change proposal.
Highway 99 is called Interstate Avenue because at one time is was the main road (interstate) from Portland to Seattle before Interstate 5 was built.
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