To the Editor: Change Aurora to Shoreline Boulevard

I have made a proposal to the Shoreline City Council that we change the name of Aurora Avenue to Shoreline Boulevard. There are many reasons why to do it and over the past 15 years there have been many discussions about making the change by groups that include past City Councils and the Shoreline Chamber. However, for whatever reason, it has never happened. It is a perfect time for the City of Shoreline to prepare for it now and to dedicate the new name at the time the celebration takes place at the completion of the current Aurora Avenue construction. Two parties in one!

By starting now, as the construction takes place, the businesses could change their stationary when it comes time to reprint. If they continue to use the old name, the mail still gets delivered. The new signs that will go up on the cross arms and street corners can all be changed at once to the new name of Shoreline Boulevard.

The advantages are:

• The name change gets rid of the old negative connotations associated with the name of Aurora.
• It will be an aid to Economic Development.
• It will strengthen the sense of Community.
• It will tie in with the new City Hall
• It will tie in with the work being done to create a new “ City Center.”
• It only requires a Resolution by the City Council

Many cities have made similar changes. It can be done by a “Resolution” by the City Council. According to the Washington State Department Of Transportation, the City has the right to make that change. It is not under WSDOT jurisdiction for the name.

Cities near us have made similar changes. They include:

• Everett renaming Highway 99 to Evergreen Way
• Sea-Tac renaming Highway 99 to International Boulevard
• Edmonds renaming Edmonds Way to Roslyn Summers Way
• Seattle renaming many streets ie: Martin Luther King Way, and Lake City Way
• Kirkland renaming their highways to Central Way and Lake Washington Boulevard.

I have talked to a large number of people, in many circumstances, and they all have liked the idea. So I am asking the Shoreline City Council to support this idea and make Aurora Avenue into Shoreline Boulevard.

Gretchen Atkinson

Shoreline