By Daniel Massey
Streets across the city will take the names of victims of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks if a bill introduced by City Councilman Joseph Addabbo (D-Howard Beach) gains approval from his council colleagues.
Addabbo, who is chairman of the Council’s Parks and Recreation Committee, said the group approval of 71 street name changes would be discussed at a committee hearing Sept. 9.
“A lot of my colleagues have been called on by constituents with proposals for changes based on victims of 9/11,” said Addabbo in an interview Friday. “This is a small gesture on the Parks Committee’s part that means so much to so many families throughout the city.”
The en masse consideration of street name changes is the first in city history, Addabbo said.
The street names will be changed on the blocks where the victims grew up, lived or had a significant impact, Addabbo said.
“It’s at the community’s discretion,” he said.
If the 71 changes gain approval in committee Sept. 9, they will be forwarded to the entire Council for a vote. Addabbo said he does not see the endeavor bumping up against any opposition.
The new names to be discussed on Sept. 9 were proposed by council members at the suggestion of constituents, Addabbo said. There were no renamings suggested for his district, which includes Howard Beach, Ozone Park and parts of Richmond Hill and the Rockaways.
If the bill becomes law, there will be 16 changes to Queens street names, including 10 within Community Board 5, which covers Maspeth, Middle Village, Glendale and Ridgewood. Forty-two of the 71 renamings come from Staten Island.
The Council will entertain requests subsequent to the Sept. 9 meeting, Addabbo said. Anyone who wishes to propose a street name for a 9/11 victim should contact his or her council member, he said.
In Kew Gardens, 122nd Street between 85th Avenue and Hillside Avenue was already renamed for Christopher Pickford, a firefighter from Engine 201 in Brooklyn who grew up on the block. A drive led by Councilwoman Melinda Katz (D-Forest Hills) led the Council to rename the stretch Christopher J. Pickford Street during a ceremony July 10.
The 16 Queens streets and their new names are:
Lt. Steven J Bates Street, 74th Street between 78th Avenue and Myrtle Avenue; Firefighter John J. Florio Place, 77th Place between Eliot Avenue and Juniper Boulevard North; Calvin Gooding Jr. Place, Sloan Street between 139th Avenue and Eastgate Plaza; Firefighter John Heffernan Street, 78th Street between Eliot Avenue and 62nd Avenue.
Firefighter William Henry Avenue, 133rd Avenue between Farmers Boulevard and 176th Street; Firefighter Scott A. Larsen Boulevard, Woodhaven Boulevard between 83rd Avenue and Myrtle Avenue; Firefighter Vincent S. Morello Street, 81st Street between 62nd Avenue and 63rd Avenue; Michael D. Mullan Way, all of Jordan Street.
Lt. Kevin Pheifer Place, 79th Place between Furmanville Avenue and Juniper Valley Road; Lieutenant Kenneth J. Phelan Way, 69th Lane between Eliot Avnue and 60th Avenue; AnnMarie Riccoboni Way, 34th Avenue between 10th Street and 11th Street; Firefighter Sergio Gabriel Villanueva Way, 149th Street between Northern Boulevard and 35th Avenue.
Lawrence Virgilio Street, 52nd Street between 43rd Avenue and Skillman Avenue; Lt. Michael P. Warchola Way, 84th Place between Furmanville Avenue and 64th Rd.; Captain Patrick Waters Road, 69th Road between 75th Street and 73rd Place; and Firefighter Michael Weinberg Way, Eliot Avenue between 72nd Street and 74th Street.
wReach reporter Daniel Massey by e-mail at Timesledger@aol.com or call 229-0300, Ext. 156.
