WASHINGTON 鈥� The Alexandria City Council voted unanimously to take the name Jefferson Davis聽off the stretch of Route 1 that runs north of Old Town; Jefferson Davis was the president of the Confederate States of America during the Civil War.
The council decided to rename the road Richmond Highway instead, partly because that鈥檚 already the name of the road south of Old Town (where it鈥檚 divided and known as Patrick and Henry Streets) as it winds through Fairfax County.
The name change will go into effect on January 1, 2019.
鈥淚t has been a very long process,鈥� noted Mayor Allison Silberberg.
The final vote on the matter was quiet and uneventful considering the number of meetings held throughout the city as local governments began re-examining the use of confederate names on area roads.
Only one resident spoke out in opposition of the change to Richmond Highway. But Richard Merrit wasn鈥檛 arguing on behalf of Davis, rather, he was pushing the city council to name the road after anyone else you could consider an 鈥淎lexandrian, or a great American living or deceased, whose life and character exemplifies our city鈥檚 values.鈥�
While there was some sentiment on the council that seemed to agree, Councilman John Chapman also admitted 鈥渋t would have been much simpler if we had, as a community, in our minds who that one person should be.鈥�
Councilman Tim Lovain, who serves on a committee that looks at street names said Richmond Highway made the most sense right now by virtue it鈥檚 named after the state capitol.
鈥淲e will have more opportunities to recognize great Alexandrians and great Americans in our name,鈥� said Lovain. 鈥淢aybe we could look at some of those Confederate general streets.鈥�
