CORRESPONDENCE
CASTLE GREEN
Februarys, 2024
Honorable City Council Members,
Castle Green residents and homeowners were recently informed of a proposed name change of Dayton Street between Raymond and Fair Oaks, and the City Council meeting on February 26th to approve the change. Our hope is that a different path can betaken to honor the legacy of the R&B band "Troop." Dayton Street is part of the historic landmark block, including Castle Green and Hotel Green, and included in the historic Old Pasadena landmark area. In addition to being important for the Hotel/Castle Green block and Old Pasadena, Dayton Street was the location of Pasadena's first firehouse and first library, as well as many other historically significant venues.
Street name changes are rarely the appropriate measure taken for these types of commemorations.
Over the past several decades, it has been rare that the City of Pasadena has changed street names for this purpose. Once was to honor the then CEO of Parsons, who tragically died in a plane crash while on a mission with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce to the Balkans after that part of the world had been destroyed by war. The section named for him was the portion of the street in front of the Parsons building. Of course, there is the portion ofRamona named for Thurgood Marshall after his death. Then there is the La Loma Bridge, renamed for longtime Pasadena resident and former California state attorney general, John Van de Kamp after his death. Historically, the city has honored other Pasadena persons or events with a plaque of some sort referencing the part of Pasadena where that person was born or lived or created the culturally or historically important time period for which they are being honored. The City's Public Monument Policy makes it clear that such a City-wide honor must not only be reviewed for its significance, but it also states that the honors should be posthumously by at least five years.
The Castle Green's constituency has no issue with honoring Troop or anyone else, but the standard to change a street name, particularly one as historic as Dayton, should be very high. We hope that you will consider leaving Dayton Street as Dayton Street and seek another way to honor the request. Thank you for your consideration.
Castle Green HOA
99 S Raymond Ave
Pasadena California 91105
McMjllan, Acquanette (Netta)
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hlenryG
Friday, February 16, 2024 3:24 PM
PublicComment-AutoResponse
Public Comment - 2/26/24 Agenda Item proposed "Dayton" street name change Some people who received this message don't often get email fromam why this is important CAUTION: This email was delivered from the Internet. Do not click links or open attachments unless you know the content is safe. Report phish using the Phish Alert Button. Learn more....
Re: February 26, 2024, 5:30 p.m. - Street Name Change - Dayton Street to Troop Way - from Fair Oaks Avenue to Raymond Avenue
As a longtime resident of the Castle Green (since 1994) I am writing my objections to the proposed name change to Dayton St.
The block is on the National Register of Historic Places and also a Pasadena Historic Monument and these street names like Dayton have direct historic context and relevance tied to that history - not to mention Central Park - whereas the musical group has zero connection to Dayton street nor this historic, protected area.
What value are those designations to this important historic site within Old Pasadena if not to protect the complete integrity of the heritage assets?
I read an item on the proposal from a Keisha Wilkins, the marketing manager at the Canyon in Montclair and associated with Visionary Media Entertainment, so perhaps this proposal is nearly a marketing ploy? Nevertheless, there are no doubt many other worthy groups and people to honor, if Troop does warrant such major recognition, there must be some other method and/or place too do so without co-opting the heritage of the Hotel/Castle Green block qnd Central Park setting and context?
Respectfully,
Henry Galas
Sent from my iPad
1 2/26/2024
Item 19
McMillan, Acquanette (Netta)
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Sam Hooker < _^ „-.—....
Tuesday, April 2, 2024 2:16 PM
Marquez, Miguel; PublicComment-AutoResponse
Fwd: Dayton Street Name Change
City Council letter 2-8-2024 V3 (1).pdf
Some people who received this message don't often get email from searn why this is important CAUTION: This email was delivered from the Internet. Do not click links or open attachments unless you know the content is safe. Report phish using the Phish Alert Button. Learn more....
Mr. Marquez, my apologies for an incorrect email the first time. -——— Forwarded message ———
From: Sam Hooker
Date: Tue, Apr 2, 2024 at 1:41 PM
Subject: Dayton Street Name Change
To: <[email protected]>, mmarquezOcityofpasadena.net <mmarquez(a>cityofpasadena.net>, <smadison(a>citvofDasadena.net>
Cc: Wu-Bowman, Yannie <YWu-Bowman(a)cityofpasadena.net>, Markarian, Kris <KMarkarian(acJtyofpasadena.net>. Andrew Salimian ^^^^.. , Susan Mossman _ i>, Mellem, Araceli <[email protected]> Mayor Gordo, Vice Mayor Madison, and Mr. Marquez,
Several months ago the Castle Green HOA was informed that there was a petition to change the name of Dayton Street (one of our access and delivery streets) to Troop Way. Given that the proposed portion of Dayton Street is included in the Old Pasadena Historic District registered National Landmark, we objected, along with a few others including Pasadena Heritage, and the item was removed from the City Council Agenda. Now we have been informed that it is the subject of a public hearing in less than two weeks. Given that there are two options, and the other one is not part of a nationally registered historic Landmark, perhaps we can remove the option of changing Dayton to Troop.
Additionally, it is concerning that just because our section of the street does not have a postal address, the City believes it should change the street name without a named standard for changing National Landmark street names (or any street names). This name change petition does not appear to be within the City's monument policy. Even if the Council votes for the other option, ourhlOAandthe historical preservationists community would Like to understand what the standard would be to change the Dayton Street name in the future as we are likely one of very few portions of streets in the City with no postal addresses.
I am attaching the letter we sent in February for your review and consideration. We urge the Council to reconsider using Dayton as an option for a name change. Thankyouforyour consideration.
Sam hlooker- President Castle Green HOA
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