HomeMy WebLinkAboutPO 6096: RENAMING TEXAS AVENUE (WEST 6TH ST. TO WEST 19TH ST) City of Port Arthur
Planning Department
Memo
To: Steve Fitzgibbons, City Manager and City Council
From: Colleen Russell, Director of Planning
Date: 8/20/2010
Re: P.O. NO. 6096 - Ordinance changing the name of Texas Avenue to Freeman
Avenue.
REQUEST:
The West Side Neighborhood Association of Port Arthur is petitioning the City of Port Arthur
to change the name of a segment of Texas Avenue (from West 6th Street to West 19th Street)
to Freeman Avenue.
BACKGROUND:
Mr. Charles E. Freeman, Sr., the patriarch of the Freeman Family, came to Port Arthur,
Texas in 1899. He is considered one of the pioneers to provide the West Side with every
service that was needed (i.e. drug store, clothing store, bakery, fish shop, cafe', etc.), with
the exception of utilities, making the West Side almost completely self - sustained.
The Freeman Family business was located in the segment of the City that is currently
being revitalized (former West 7th Street and Texas Avenue).
The West Side Neighborhood Association feels that it is "an appropriate honor to
rename Texas Avenue as Freeman Avenue for the family that contributed to the original
development of the area."
Respectfully,
Colleen ' 1
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June 21, 2010 , A
City Manager Steve Fitzgibbons j
c/o City of Port Arthur r
444 4 Street
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Port Arthur, TX 77640 n
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Dear City Manager Fitzgibbons, d
Fit
the City of Port Arthur R
The West Side Neighborhood Association of Port Arthur is petitioning t3'
to change the name of a segment of Texas Avenue to Freeman Avenue. The section of Texas y 1
J '
Avenue invo in the proposed change extends from the West 6 Street to West 19 Street. q
x T he rationale to qualify the change in accordance with the N ame Change Resolution p urports the
'4 historical significance of the Freeman Family in the economic development of the West Side of
' Port Arthur.
9 ur Texas 1
19 Mr. Charles E. Freeman, Sr., the patriarch of the Freeman Family, came to Port Arthur, 1
1 in 1899. He added his name to the Port Arthur City Directory by becoming an amazing
q entrepreneur, one of the pioneers who provided the West Side with every service that it needed, 1 ii z
'3
with the exception of utilities, making the West Side almost completely self - sustained. He 0
e stablished a drug store, a clothing store, a bakery, a fish shop, a ca and other businesses. As
1 R he progressed, he was assisted by his sons, Charles Jr., Malcolm, and Murray, along with his c
daughter Gloria. Through the years, the family continued the traditions of exhibiting great pride f
in their entire city, serving their community, and helping the youth of Port Arthur. Today, Ms.
Gloria Freeman is continuing the traditions of the Freeman Family serving on various city i I
4
comm such as the Port Arthur Jubilee Planning Committee, the Port Arthur City r
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i , Centennial Committee, the Port Arthur Civic Center Planning Committee, and the Port Arthur I N
Needs Committee. She a gives annually a Freeman Family College Scholarship for a local i
4 1 youth. Lastly, the Freeman Family business was located in that segment of the City that is now 1 a
1 being revitalized (the former West 7 th and Texas Ave.). Our organization feels that it is an ° i
r appropriate honor to rename Texas Avenue as Freeman Avenue for this family that contributed
l 5 to the original development of the area.
lic
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i S. Wis nuruty roject Coordinator 4
1 Mr. elvin Getwood, President WSNA i 1
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P.O. NO. 6096
07/28/2010 pdl
ORDINANCE NO.
AN ORDINANCE CHANGING THE NAME OF TEXAS AVENUE
(SECTION EXTENDING FROM WEST 6TH STREET TO WEST 19TH
STREET) TO FREEMAN AVENUE.
WHEREAS, existing subdivision plats show this street to be named Texas Avenue; and,
WHEREAS, the proposed change meets the requirements of Resolution No. 87 -220, as
amended; and,
WHEREAS, a public hearing was held on August 10, 2010, and there were no objections
to the proposed name change; and,
WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of Port Arthur is of the opinion that the changing of
this street name is in the best interest of the City of Port Arthur and to the public; and, now,
therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR:
THAT the facts and opinions in the preamble are true and correct.
THAT the portion of Texas Avenue which extends from West 6th Street to West 19th is
hereby renamed Freeman Avenue.
THAT the City will assume all costs of labor and materials for installation of new street
signs.
THAT a certified copy of this Ordinance be filed in the Office of the County Clerk of
Jefferson County, Texas.
THAT certified copies of this Ordinance be provided to the United States Postal Service,
9 -1 -1, and the Jefferson County Appraisal District.
P.O.
07/2N80/.26001906p ol
THAT the effective date of this Ordinance shall be October 1, 2010.
READ, ADOPTED AND APPROVED this day of August, A.D., 2010, at a Regular
Meeting of the City Council of the City of Port Arthur, Texas, by the following vote: AYES:
MAYOR:
COUNCILMEMBERS:
NOES:
Mayor
ATTEST:
City Secretary
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
Va 1;
City Attorney / /` `
APPROVED FOR ADMINISTRATION:
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City Manage - VD
''D of Pla ni
k .,/ir
Director of Public Works