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Street Renaming & Honorary Street Names
Street Renaming
Due to the burdens on individuals to change personal identification, accounts, and other materials when an address change occurs, street renaming is uncommon, occurring in the following circumstances:
- 911 identifies a street name issue that presents a life-safety problem that needs to be rectified. This occurs when existing naming/numbering demonstrably impacts the accuracy of dispatching emergency responders causing delays in service. Staff initiate the renaming and communicate to all property owners the need to change and work with them to come up with a name they are in agreement with.
- Property owners request a street renaming and work with staff to identify a street name that is not a duplicate in the Orange County 911 emergency dispatch service area. Once all property owners indicate agreement to the change, the change can go forward.
- Town Council requests exploration of a change. Staff evaluates for conflicts/duplicates and a change can be made if it does not duplicate an existing name.
- Download the information sheet (posted at right)
Honorary Naming of Carrboro Town Streets Policy
PURPOSE
Honorary Street names are signs posted below standard public Town street names which are intended to recognize and honor individuals, groups or events for a period of time without changing the official name of the street or the official addresses of residences and businesses on the street. The purpose of this policy allows for the opportunity to designate an existing street or any segment of a street in honor of any living or deceased individuals, groups or events that made a significant positive impact on the community that reflects one of Carrboro’s core pillars – Race and Equity. Carrboro is resilient and we continue to find ways to tell our story which advances the town’s race and equity initiatives.
PROGRAM STANDARDS
Honorary Streets
- Should reflect Carrboro’s race and equity initiatives.
- Should acknowledge and uncover truth and shine a light on a just, equitable and inclusive community.
- May be named for individuals, groups, living or dead that provided creditable service or historical significance to the community or connection with the proposed street.
- The individuals or groups should reside or resided in Carrboro at some point during their lifetime and/or have a historical connection.
- May be named to recognize a significant historical event.
• Apply to streets owned by the town and within town limits.
• This designation will not change or impact the official street name or numbering of buildings or street addresses. The postal addresses for honorary streets remain the primary name of the street.
• Only one honorary street name designation shall be allowed per street.
• Each honorary designation includes a sunset provision of 15 years from the date installed. At that time the name will be removed unless an applicant requests an extension before the sunset date.
• Commercial or corporate related recognition does not qualify under this policy.
• Honorary sign will be installed under the current street sign.
• Signs will be a brown background with white reflective lettering in compliance with federal standards.
PROCESS
- Submit an honorary street sign application available on the Town’s website. The application is available here.
- All property owners impacted by the proposed honorary street sign will be notified for awareness.
- The application will be reviewed by the Racial Equity Commission for a potential recommendation.
- If approved by the Racial Equity Commission, the application, recommendation, and supporting documents will be presented to the Town Council for action.
Recent Street Name Changes
Carr Street to Braxton Foushee Street (effective March 27, 2024)
The street renaming was proposed on Oct. 17, 2023, when the Carrboro Town Council heard a request from Dave Mason, president of the Lincoln High School Alumni Association, Pat Mason and Herman Murrell Foushee for a street to be named “Braxton Foushee Street.”
Braxton Foushee has dedicated over 54 years of his life to continuous service as an elected official, a member of a town advisory board and a community leader. He became the first Black member of the Carrboro Town Council in 1969, serving until 1981. Watch the street dedication event on our YouTube channel and read the poem "Braxton Foushee Street" written by Liza Wolff-Francis in honor of Braxton Foushee and the street dedication on Wednesday, March 27, 2024.
Carr Street is named for Julian Carr, a noted white supremacist. The namesake of Carrboro, he was an active and influential participant in Jim Crow era efforts to create a system of racial segregation.
- Carrboro Town Council Meeting – Feb. 6, 2024 – Town Code Amendment to Codify Street Name Change
- Carrboro Town Council Meeting –Jan. 30, 2024 - Braxton Foushee Street Renaming-Cost Assistance
- Carrboro Town Council Meeting – Nov. 29, 2023 – Street Naming/Renaming
Phipps Street to Lavender Street (effective January 30, 2024)
In August 2021, residents of Phipps Street requested that their street name be changed to disassociate the street from its namesake Luther James Phipps, a local attorney, judge and known segregationist. They were provided with the Street Name Change request form, to be used, first, for all property owners to certify that they have been informed of the street name change request, that they understand that their addresses will change, and second, to come to agreement among the property owners on a new street name. The Phipps Street property owners submitted their request that Phipps Street be renamed Lavender Street, with signatures from all property owners, in August 2023. The official Address Assignment letter making the change was sent September 27, 2023. New street signs were installed shortly thereafter.
- Carrboro Town Council Meeting – Jan. 30 2024 - Town Code Amendment to Codify Street Name Change