David Kievit, La Mesa Historical Society : The city hall and fire station sit right behind here now.
David Kievit is a history buff. He can point to La Mesa Boulevard when it was just a fledgling dirt road on this 19th century map. Kievit is concerned that the city wants to change the name of Allison Avenue, named after the city's founder Robert Allison.
Kievit : Many of the streets in La Mesa were named after people who had an impact on the area and when you walk around town and see those street signs, whether you know or not, it reminds you or may prompt you to seek more information.
But the city council recently voted to change the name of two blocks of the five-block Allison Avenue. The motivation is redevelopment: the city is spending millions of dollars to rebuild its police station, post office, library and city hall. The new fire station is already up and running.
Art Madred, La Mesa Mayor : We will have invested over $90 Million of public monies in here. So this is really the public's money and its also the public's place and they ought to be very proud of the fact that this is what we've done with our dollars. And the best way to showcase it by changing the name to Civic Center Drive or Civic Center Plaza.
La Mesa Mayor Art Madrid says a new street name would highlight civic re-development. Plus the mayor says:
Madred : Over the years I have asked people the average man or woman on the street, if I say Robert Allison what does that mean to you? Not a single person has been able to identify them, even long-term residents. What we have here is an opportunity to showcase a community and that's by changing the name.
Allison Avenue may be named after the founder of La Mesa, but it’s true what the mayor says, few city residents we asked seemed to know that piece of history.
Tolin : Can you tell me the name of the street we're on?
Sandy Watson , La Mesa Resident: Allison.
Tolin : Who was it named after?
Watson : I don't know.
Thomas Welch : I guess he has something to do with the start of La Mesa, I believe.
Tolin : Do you know who he was?
Welch : No not really, even though I've lived here since 1958.
Tolin: Do you know who it was named after?
Barbara Caliri, La Mesa Resident: No, I don't actually.
Tolin : But still, residents like Barbara Caliri like the more hometown sound of Allison Avenue. And Kievit says if the city must change this slice of history, why not clarify the founder's name?
Kievit : I thought that we should celebrate that the street is named Allison after a person who is instrumental in bringing La Mesa to the point it is today. I thought perhaps we should change the name to Robert Allison Avenue so people really know there is a significance there.
