Title
Enacting Chapter A-17 of the Saint Paul Administrative Code to address street names.
Body
SECTION 1
To rename the portion of Concordia Avenue between Griggs Street and Kellogg Boulevard to Rondo Avenue
WHEREAS, the City petitioned to return the portion of Concordia Avenue between Griggs Street to Kellog Boulevard to its former name Rondo Avenue; and
WHEREAS, in the mid-1900's the Rondo neighborhood was a thriving center of African-American life in Minnesota, and was home to important and historical Saint Paul commerce and culture; and
WHEREAS, the construction of the Interstate 94 corridor destroyed many African-American businesses along Rondo Avenue; and
WHEREAS, displaced hundreds of families from their homes; and
WHEREAS, in 1964, along with the construction of I-94, a resolution was passed to rename Rondo Avenue to Concordia Avenue; and
WHEREAS, prior to 1964, Rondo Avenue extended from Griggs Street to Kellogg Boulevard;
WHEREAS, renaming Concordia Avenue from Griggs Street to Kellogg Boulevard back to Rondo Avenue will reclaim the cultural history of the community; and
WHEREAS, Minnesota Statute Honoring § 440.11 requires that changes or naming of streets, lanes, avenues, public highways, parks, and public grounds be by ordinance; and
WHEREAS, Legislative Code Title IX Section 73.04 (11) requires that the Heritage Preservation Commission review and comment on proposed street names; and
WHEREAS, on November 20th, 2023, the Heritage Preservation Commission unanimously approved the proposed name change; and
WHEREAS, the council of the City of Saint Paul believes that renaming Concordia Ave from Griggs Street to Kellogg Boulevard back to Rondo Avenue is a step in reclaiming certain lost cultural and history identities; and
WHEREAS, the council of the City of Saint Paul believes that when possible and appropriate, reclaiming and preserving Saint Paul’s historic cultural and identity is in the public interest; and
RESOLVED, that the council hereby adopts the following ordinance renaming Concordia Ave from Griggs Street to Kellogg Boulevard back to Rondo Avenue.
SECTION 2
This Ordinance shall take effect and be in force thirty (30) days following passage, approval, and publication.