The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. is no doubt a legacy worthy of having a city street bear his name — but so is Judge Edward Whalley.
That was the opinion of City Plan commissioners (pictured) who met on Wednesday night to consider a proposal to give Whalley Avenue a second title, “The Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Boulevard.” The street, named after “regicide” Judge Edward Whalley won’t easily accommodate two historical figures, the commission noted.
The proposal to re-name Whalley was made last month by Alderman Yusuf Shah.
The commissioners voted to recommend that the Board of Aldermen form an ad hoc committee to look into other possibilities. Commissioners agreed with an idea raised by City Plan Director Karyn Gilvarg, who suggested in her advisory report that a street with an “uninspiring” name like “North Frontage Road” might be better suited as a candidate for re-naming.
Whalley Avenue is one of three streets — along with Goffe and Dixwell — named for the three “regicides,” judges who signed the death warrant against King Charles I of England in 1649. Later pursued by British soldiers, Whalley and Goffe were hidden by New Haveners at what is now known as Judge’s Cave, atop West Rock, thereby securing their place in New Haven history.
City engineer Dick Miller said that the commission should be mindful of the history of the three judges “and what that means to the city of New Haven.”
Dr. King’s legacy deserves to be honored with the naming of “a major thoroughfare” said Alderman Roland Lemar. He recommended that the ad hoc committee look for a new possibility that both sufficiently honors the civil rights leader’s memory and does justice to local history.
Miller pointed out that Whalley Avenue is very densely populated with residents and businesses, who would be inconvenienced by having to change their addresses. A street like North Frontage doesn’t have as many businesses, but is planned to have them in the future, Miller continued, making that street a better candidate.
The commission voted unanimously to recommend the formation of an aldermanic ad hoc committee.