Four streets in Alexandria may get new names this year, depending on the outcome of a City Council vote this Saturday.
There are more than 40 streets in the City of Alexandria that were named for people who were racist. The city will be working on changing a few of those streets each year until the process is complete.
The first set of proposed street name changes, in Alexandria's West End, will go before City Council again Saturday, Jan. 20, as part of the larger Confederate street renaming initiative.
After a contentious first review at a City Council meeting earlier this month, city officials have made adjustments to their recommendations, primarily based on resident feedback.
- Breckinridge Place may be renamed in honor of Harriet Jacobs.
- Forrest Street may be renamed Forest Street.
- Early Street may be renamed in honor of Charity Earley.
- Jordan street may be rededicated in honor of Thomasina Jordan.
Thomasina Jordan and Charity Earley were suggestions from the community. Both names received support in a survey of affected residents and from individuals who came to speak at a November 29, 2023, Naming Committee public hearing.
These identified streets, among others, were named for Confederate figures, primarily 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 in the early stages of a 15-year process to rename or rededicate those roadways in a manner that creates the least disruption for residents and businesses.
Saturday's City Council meeting begins at 9:30 a.m. in the City Hall Council Chambers (301 King St., second floor). Those who wish to speak can sign up online or via a paper form in the Council Chambers.
