“Our predecessors used street naming policies as a form of permanent protest against the burgeoning civil rights movement and growing political power for African-Americans. As a symbol, these honors persist today, honoring virulent racists, many of whom took up arms against our nation. These honors are not defensible and should be removed. While it is important to remove these inappropriate honors, it is also important to consider the practical concerns as thousands of Alexandria residents and visitors use these existing street names to navigate our community. As such, I believe a reasonable, yet deliberate pace of renaming these streets over time should be embarked upon.”
- Alexandria Mayor Justin M. Wilson
Who are the streets being named or dedicated for?
On January 20, 2024, City Council unanimously voted to rename three streets and rededicate a fourth. These changes will take place in June. Read about the impacted streets:
Current Name: North Breckinridge Place
To be renamed Harriet Jacobs Place.
Harriet Jacobs (1815-1897): African American abolitionist and writer who established the first Free school for African American children in Alexandria. Wrote “Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl."
Current Name: North and South Early Street
To be renamed North and South Earley Street.
Lt. Col. Charity Earley (1918-2002): Lt. Col. Charity Early was the U.S. Army’s highest-ranking Black woman officer during World War II. Her leadership and service broke barriers and paved the way for future generations of African American women in the military.
Current name: North and South Jordan Street, Jordan Court
To be rededicated for Thomasina Jordan. No change in name.
Thomasina Jordan (d. 1999): The first American Indian to serve in the United States Electoral College. An American Indian activist who later lived in Alexandria.
Current name: Forrest Street
To be renamed: Forest Street
Frequently Asked Questions
If you have a question about the Street Renaming process that is not addressed below, please reach out to Alex311.
What do I need to do if my street is renamed?
The City will change addresses for residents and businesses within the following operations:
- U.S. Postal Service: you do not need to request a change of address form.
- Personal Property Tax: you do not need to update your personal property records.
- Land Records and Permits: the City will inform the Circuit Court Clerk and make any necessary alternations to all planning permits.
- Utilities: the City will alert the following agencies regarding street name changes:
- AlexRenew
- Dominion Energy
- Comcast
- Ting
- Washington Gas
- Voter Registration: the Registrar will change voting records.
- Schools: the City will send notifications to the City School Board, Alexandria City Public School Administration, and principals.
- Emergency Services: the City will update all of its emergency services of new street names, including:
- Alexandria Police Department
- Alexandria Fire Department
- 311 and 911
You do NOT need to notify these agencies. Your street name will be updated with no action on your part.
What will residents and businesses be responsible for changing, where applicable?
- Department of Motor Vehicles: vehicle registration, driver’s license, state IDs
- Address change can be done online – ID card replacement not required.
- Passports
- No address change is required until passport is expired.
- IRS / Tax Advisor
- Put new address on next tax filing and on Form 8822
- Mail a letter with the following information: full name, new address, old address, date of birth, Social Security Number, Individual Taxpayer ID Number or Employer Identification Number.
- Wills & Trusts
- No address change required, though if desired, the City may provide certified letter as addendum to will/trust (if requested)
- Social Security
- Address change is required if you are collecting Medicare benefits. The change can be made online.
- If you are collecting SSI, address change must be done in person.
- Financials
- Banks and investment services
- Loan issuers
- Credit card companies
- Insurance
- Health, dental, life, car, house and/or renters insurance
- Subscriptions
Business owners should consider updating the following:
- Business listings on the internet and navigational maps
- Websites
- Business cards
- Promotional Items
- Social Media
- Directory Listings
- Certifications
When will the affected streets’ names be changed?
Name changes for impacted streets will take effect in June, which will include changing the physical street signs.
As a reminder, dates are subject to change. Factors that may affect work include, but are not limited to, weather conditions, equipment, other ongoing and future City projects, and utility work coordination.
How will I be impacted?
The changes will impact those living or working on North Breckinridge Place, Forrest Street, and North and South Early Street. Check this map to see if your address falls in one of the affected areas. These changes include physical street signs changing on the dates provided.
Temporary “No Parking” signs may be posted before work begins. Please be sure to observe these signs to avoid tickets and potential towing of vehicles.
As a reminder, dates are subject to change. Factors that may affect work include, but are not limited to, weather conditions, equipment, other ongoing and future City projects, and utility work coordination.
Public transit options: Consider utilizing public transit, ridesharing, bicycling, and walking on the day(s) of installation. Our GO Alex Program can connect you with mobility resources in the City of Alexandria. Email goalex@alexandriava.gov, learn more at GOAlex or call our DASH Call Center at 703.746.DASH.
Safety or service requests: For additional questions or non – emergency service needs, call ALEX 311 at 703.746.4311. Residents and businesses may also download the mobile app, visit ALEX311, or connect on our social platforms via @AlexandriaVA311.
Why is the City doing this?
These four streets are the first to be impacted during what will be a multi-year process of renaming and rededicating roadways currently named for Confederate figures. The City is committed to reckoning with its past and the legacy of a 1953 Ordinance that ruled that all streets running North-South in the city should be named for Confederate officers.
What has the City done so far?
What has the City done thus far? In January 2023, Mayor Justin Wilson introduced a proposal to rename streets currently named for Confederate officers. This year the City Council Naming Committee completed a public information-gathering process on the history select streets as well as the impact to and opinions of residents, leading to City Council’s January 2024 ordinance to rename or rededicate four streets this year.
For a more thorough overview of the work that has been done, please see "Background" below.
Background
On January 10, 2023, Mayor Justin Wilson introduced a proposalto rename streets in the City that are named for Confederate officers. Many of these streets were named in 1953 through an ordinance (No. 769)that specifically stated that “streets running in a generally north-south direction shall, insofar as possible, bear the names of Confederate military leaders.” This ordinance was approved one year following the annexation of Alexandria’s West End (west of Quaker Lane) where many streets in the City had not yet been developed nor been named. This ordinance also came to be in anticipation of the landmark Supreme Justice Court Case of Brown v. Board of Education – a defining point in the Civil Rights Movement, which, as the Southern Poverty Law Center stated in a 2016 report, “led to a backlash among segregationists,” including the naming of streets and civic buildings for Confederates.
City Staff have developed a list of all the streets named for Confederate officers in the City, including their original name (if the street existed prior to 1953), and the year of the change, as also documented in City Code Sec. 5-2-62. A few of these streets were named for Confederates prior to 1953. The list also includes streets that are potentially named for Confederates, though unverified. View a map of the streets and the # of addresses on each. The Naming Committee will use these documents to determine its prioritization for street renamings. The Committee will also consider how many residents and businesses will be impacted and the length of the street.
Through this work, Council aims to increase the percentage of residents that feel openness and acceptance of the community toward diverse backgrounds, and decrease the gap (13.1%) between white (77%) and non-white residents (64%) in response to this question, as measured in the City’s annual resident survey.
Process
In 2023, the City Council Naming Committee will begin the public process of renaming these streets. To be deliberate and efficient with resources, the Committee will select three streets to rename per year, as outlined in the timeline below.
The City Council Naming Committee is currently comprised of three (3) members of City Council.
- Councilman John Taylor Chapman, Chair
- Councilmember Sarah Bagley
- Councilwoman Alyia Gaskins
Staff Liaison for the City Council Naming Committee is Jack Browand, Deputy Director, Recreation, Parks, and Cultural Activities.
During this time, the Historic Alexandria Resources Commission (HARC) developed a list, with the support of the Office of Historic Alexandria, of individuals and locations worthy of honor by the City. As requested by the Mayor, the Commission gave special attention to inclusion of historically marginalized populations, such as women and BIPOC communities (as well as events and locations significant to populations that have been historically marginalized throughout our history), who have frequently been ignored through history. Additionally, the Commission considered street names that had been retired previously.
To provide feedback on the process, please click here.
Year 1 Timeline
- April – September 2023: HARC identified potential names for the Naming Committee to consider. The date and locations for HARC meetings are open to the public and posted on the City Calendar.
- May 1, 2023: The Naming Committee held a meeting to review the scope of work in advance of City Council legislative session.
- May 23, 2023: At the second legislative session, the Naming Committee brought the scope of work to City Council for their awareness of the process.
- September 28, 2023:
- The Naming Committee met to discuss and select its three prioritized street renaming for 2023. They may also select 2-3 alternative streets. At this meeting, HARC will provide their list of potential names and the Naming Committee will select its top three for consideration. This meeting will include a public comment period.
- Following the meeting, staff will issue a public feedback form for community members to suggest names. Any names from the community must include: (1) the justification for the proposed name and (2) documentation on a community-led meeting to discuss the name. Feedback forms may also include recommendations from representatives in the community, such as a community organization (HOA/Civic Association), and an explanation of any additional information on a community outreach process.
- Property owners on the street will receive a postcard in advance of the next Naming Committee meeting and City Council public hearings.
- November 30, 2023: The City Council’s Naming Committee held a public hearing in Council Chambers at City Hall at 6 p.m. After receiving the Naming Committee’s recommendation, City Council considered street name changes and corresponding ordinance at the January 9, 2024, City Council Legislative Meeting and January 20, 2024, City Council Public Hearing. Staff then began the process of address, system, and signage changes.
- January 9, 2024: City Council held a legislative meeting to consider the Naming Committee’s recommendations and determine what proposals to consider at its January 20 public hearing.
- January 20, 2024: City Council took public comment and voted to rename three streets and rededicate a fourth, which took effect in June.
Year 2 Timeline
The City Council Naming Committee will meet on October 30, 2024 to determine the process and timeline for Year 2.
City Council & City Council Naming Committee Meeting Materials
October 30, 2024 - City Hall, 301 King Street Room 1900 (first floor) at 6 p.m.
Agenda
- Updates and Lessons learned from Year 1
- Process for Year 2
- Streets and Name selection
- Public Process
- Logistics
- Other Items
September 25, 2024 City Council Naming Committee Meeting (Cancelled)
April 8, 2024 City Council Naming Committee Meeting (Cancelled)
January 20, 2024 City Council Public Hearing - 9:30 a.m., City Hall, Council Chamber, 301 King Street
January 9, 2024 City Council Meeting
November 30, 2023 City Council Naming Committee Public Hearing - 6 p.m., City Hall, Council Chamber, 301 King St.
- Public Hearing Video
- Agenda
- Confederate Street Renaming Survey Responses(11-30-2023)
- Please Register in Advance to participate virtually. (Webinar ID: 959 9890 8423 / Webinar Passcode: 298950)
September 28, 2023 City Council Naming Committee
- Agenda (revised 9/27/23)
- Meeting Information
- Meeting Presentation
- Summary Minutes
May 23, 2023 City Council Naming Committee
- Meeting Packet(updated 5/19/23)
May 1, 2023 City Council Naming Committee
March 6, 2023 City Council Naming Committee