Q

Why is Lee Highway being renamed?

A

Lee Highway is being renamed in order to realize the years-long grassroots community effort to create a welcoming Main Street by removing the word "Highway" and to begin to reconcile the painful racial history that many in our community have experienced by removing the name "Lee." 

• Lee Highway was not named in the 1800s after the Civil War. The Corridor got its name during Jim Crow in the 1920s - more than sixty years after Lee surrendered.  
• Robert E. Lee represents a dark era in American history that continues to impact life today. Lee Highway should be renamed to represent a forward-thinking, equitable, and welcoming community, not the Confederacy and Jim Crow. 
• The word “Highway” does not convey an attractive place that is consistent with the Main Street envisioned by the thousands of residents, property owners, and businesses that have already weighed in during the Visioning Study and the Plan Lee Highway Process. 

Q

What is being renamed?

A

LHA is working to change both the words "Lee" and "Highway" from the 4.6 mile stretch of Lee Highway in Arlington County. Name changes will also take place for the Lee Arts Center, the County's Plan Lee Highway program, and Lee Highway Alliance.  

Q

How did Lee Highway get its name?

A

The Lee Highway Corridor was previously made up of Little Falls Road and Georgetown and Falls Church Road. Lee Highway did not formally receive its name until the 1920s, decades after the end of the Civil War. For a full history on the naming of Lee Highway, click here.

Q

What happens when my address is changed?

A

Residents and business/property owners ​do not need to contact the United States Postal Service (USPS) to file a change of address form. Once a new name has been selected, Arlington County will alert the USPS and addresses of all homes, properties, and businesses located along Lee Highway will be automatically changed for no cost.
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Other recommended actions:

• Updates to websites and related social media
  
• Vendors, utilities, payroll, and taxing authorities must be notified in writing
  
• Ammend leases
  
• Monument signage, letterheads, and business cards should be altered if address is shown
  

Although such changes do take administrative time, the financial burden is low. For questions or concerns about topics not covered here, please contact our staff.

Q

How will the new name for Lee Highway be selected?

A

LHA has assembled a Working Group of 25 Lee Highway residents and business owners, and has formed 5 Advisory Groups to support the process. During meetings held throughout the fall and early winter, the Working Group on Renaming Lee Highway will:

• Agree upon Evaluation Criteria and Rules. 
• Evaluate names submitted by the public based on the Criteria and Rules. 
• Reduce the long list to a shortlist of 20 names. 
• Send the shortlist to be evaluated by Special Advisory Groups on Branding, Transportation, Business, Institutions, and Neighborhoods and be publicly polled by the community.
• Based on Advisory Group and community input and dialogue during meetings, select one preferred name and 2-4 alternatives. 

The LHA Board will submit the names chosen by the Working Group to the Arlington County Board who will subsequently submit the recommendation to the Commonwealth Transportation Board or the Virginia General Assembly for approval and implementation. 
Send the results to the LHA Board for review. 

To view meeting dates, the Working Group Charge, and members of the Working Group and Advisory Groups, click here. To watch meetings and view documents, click here. 

Q

Will​ Lee Highway residents and business owners be involved in the renaming process?

A

Absolutely! LHA values input from Arlingtonians and, as such, will ensure the the community is included every step of the way. All Working Group meetings are held over Zoom and are open to the public. Arlingtonians were asked to submit name suggestions (closed October 21st) and were asked to fill out a poll indicating their top name choices. Polling was open from October 23rd through November 30th. To ask questions or share comments, please fill out our contact form. 

Q

How much will renaming cost taxpayers?

A

All costs associated with producing, placing and maintaining new street signage are covered by Arlington County.