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Home > Blogs > Hamilton News and Issues > Archives > 2010 > May > 18 > Entry
City reaches compromises on street name change
In many situations, according to Hamilton Mayor Pat Moeller, compromise isn’t the best tactic. That’s because, in his writer’s opinion, neither side fully gets what it wanted in the first place. It’s a settling, so to speak. (Still, I’m a man with a wonderful marriage, one kid and one on the way, so compromise is a word I’m all too familiar.)
But, in the instance of the renaming of Knightsbridge Drive to Technology Drive, both sides (residents and the city’s southern commercial corridor) came away with a victory Monday, May 17, at the hands of the Planning Commission. There are still a few steps to go before the win is realized, but Monday’s vote was a favorable move for change.
Here’s the story:
HAMILTON — The city reached a compromise Monday, May 17, regarding a request to change the name of a local street, catering to both existing residents and what many call Hamilton’s commercial future.
The Hamilton Planning Commission voted unanimously Monday to recommend changing the name of only a portion of Knightsbridge Drive to Technology Drive. The amended recommendation will now be heard by City Council before moving onto the next step.
If approved by council, Knightsbridge Drive will be renamed Technology Drive from University Boulevard to Neilan Boulevard, an area that includes the Vora Technology Park and Riverview Elementary. But from University Drive east to Ohio 127 — where nearly 40 residences are located — the street will remain as it’s been since it was changed from South Avenue in October 1962 to honor Champion paper.
“Compromise isn’t always the best thing to do, but in this situation, I think there’s a lot of respect for a lot of those in our town to amend the recommendation,” said Mayor and Planning Commission member Pat Moeller. “That way, you’ve got the residents of Knightsbridge and the others on Technology. In a way that kind of makes sense.”
In February, Dr. Daniel Hall, dean of Miami University Hamilton, submitted the request to City Council requesting the entire Knightsbridge Drive be changed to Technology Drive in an effort “to better and more accurately label the area and to support the efforts of VTP to make Hamilton a more attractive location for technology businesses.”
Hall said Monday he agreed with the compromise.
A meeting held May 3 brought out two dozen residents, nearly half of them expressing their objections to the change; a 40-name petition against the change had also been received by the city by Monday’s meeting.
Councilman Archie Johnson, who was the lone dissenting vote when council agreed to pass Hall’s request on to the Planning Commission, said in a letter Monday he was frustrated by the notion.
“I also think that it is terrible that ONE PERSON who does not live in this area can speak and impact a community that they know nothing about,” Johnson wrote.
While Hall does not live in the city’s 2nd Ward, he told the Planning Commission he lives in Hamilton, off Eden Park Drive.
Contact this reporter at (513) 820-2112 or dgreber@coxohio.com.
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Comments
By Melanie Marie Shifflett Ridner
May 18, 2010 10:33 AM | Link to this
It is not whether a person lives in the area or not. Champion has been a Historical impact on this City with it’s hard working people who worked hard with the sweats off thier backs to make and bring the City of Hamilton into the future with thier past.The street fully should stay NightsBridge and be made Historical as a Justice to the working people of this City.The City should be ashamed of trying to progress and put such a Historical Street on the back burners.
By HennyPenny
May 18, 2010 1:30 PM | Link to this
It is Knightsbridge with a K. I worked at Champion, my husband worked at Champion, my parents, grandparents, uncles, etc worked there. I used to think if you cut me I would bleed Champion blue. Now it is gone. Keeping the name won’t change that. I have wonderful memories that can never be replaced. Knightsbridge was once the town dump. Champion changed that, now let Vora Technology have a chance. Let go of the past and look to the future.
By Andrew
May 18, 2010 2:01 PM | Link to this
Apparently, Mr. Moeller and the council need to be replaced as quickly as we are replacing the county commissioners. What is the payoff for the city here? None. But, we will all pay for new signage. And, I am sure that the ensuing confusion will lead to more businesses wanting to locate here. Well done, council, if you vote to do this. It will make it much easier to choose candidates for the next election.
By APE
May 18, 2010 2:57 PM | Link to this
Andrew I agree! Leave it as Knightsbridge or be removed with the Knightsbridge sign! At worst make it South Avenue again.
By Lost
May 19, 2010 1:33 PM | Link to this
You can go from N 3rd to Martin Luther King to Pleasant without making a turn. You will be able to go from Knightsbridge to Technology without making a turn. You can go from Neilan to River to Southgate without making a turn. I wonder why businesses don’t come here where we make it so easy for their customers to find them.