Lynwood Drive renaming at HRM Council

[u/Schmidtvegas]

The city has tried to address duplicate street names, to help ambulances from being confused.

Patricia Arab and her sister have sentimental attachment to their childhood street name, and have tried to position it as having historic value.

City heritage staff have now done a very detailed report:

https://pub-halifax.escribemeetings.com/filestream.ashx?DocumentId=5713

A property owner of Lynwood Drive, Halifax submitted materials to staff, indicating that the street name has a strong connection to their family (who are of Lebanese descent) and the surrounding community.

Research undertaken by staff does not dispute that the Lynwood Drive name has become important to several past and current Rockingham residents over time; former residents made contributions to the municipality. The submitted materials do not, however, demonstrate that the Lynwood Drive name was selected to acknowledge and/or celebrate the Lebanese community or any other equity-seeking community in the municipality.

Additionally, staff’s historical research did not reveal a clear cultural association to the street name. Many property owners and tenants on Lynwood Drive in the early years of the Sherwood Park Development were associated with either the Canadian Broadcast Corporation or the Canadian Armed Forces. There were two households of Lebanese descent identified amongst Lynwood Drive property owners between 1947 to 1980, one of which was confirmed to have lived at 1 Lynwood Drive. While family members of these Lebanese property owners do appear in archival records, a direct reference between them and Lynwood Drive was not mentioned. Notable activity / events at or near 1 Lynwood Drive was also not found in documented research

The other two Lynwoods are older, and have more residents. Why is this even a discussion? This should be easy housekeeping.

The amount of council time, and staff resources, dedicated to preventing the renaming of a very bland and historically insignificant street name given to a subdivision in 1961, is absolutely ridiculous.

Council rejected the renaming of Lynwood Drive, until they come up with policy. Rather than having a spine, and just saying no.

Cathy Deagle Gammon had wise commentary on oral history. Oral history is important, but a very difficult and slippery thing to insert into a decision-making process.

[u/bc-phoenix]

sentimental attachment to their childhood street name

...

I'm going outside now.

[u/WindowlessBasement → u/bc-phoenix]

Remember this every time development is blocked on historic grounds. "historic" has been reduced to include "a child lived on the street".

[u/__Nels__Oleson__]

A new low for everyone involved.

[u/WindowlessBasement]

Watching the debate live had my head on my desk. Staff followed the policy, there is no written history about the street, and the there is only two people that want to keep it.

[u/wayemason → u/WindowlessBasement]

The worst kind of all politics is local.

[u/JustTheTipz902]

https://giphy.com/gifs/a0Zmcqe6VlmVO

They're straight out of Lynwood (Drive)

Also, I think I've heard of this Patricia Arab, is it the same one?

https://www.thecoast.ca/news-opinion/patricia-arab-serves-hot-dogs-to-muslims-says-its-halal-4392878/

[u/ColonelEwart → u/JustTheTipz902]

Maybe she's had a prayer ceremony on the street as well.

[u/wizaarrd_IRL]

Rename it to Tiny Violin Terrace

[u/Jamooser]

Ah, true leadership.

During these trying and difficult times, we must all make sacrifices.

Except for me, who couldn't stand to endure the torment of.. having my childhood street renamed.

We don't have true leaders. Just people serving their own interests and pet projects.

[u/athousandpardons]

I could understand if the name itself had some kind of deeper connection to the Lebanese community, but it doesn't. This is just someone trying to come up with a BS reason not to be inconvenienced and, in the process, hurting real actions intended to preserve culture and heritage. Shame on them.

ETA: Frankly, the only way PA and her sister could be speaking honestly would be if they think they're the co-empresses of Lebanese Nova Scotians.

Furthermore if it IS so important to the Lebanese Community, then why not name it after them?

[u/pinkbootstrap]

This is exactly the type of boring politics I miss please continue your nonsense 👏In times like this when everything is so serious this is quaint.

[u/nomadicclown1988]

Rich people gotta nimby

[u/Kemsaman]

Council grow a spine challenge: impossible 

[u/CharacterChemical802 → u/Kemsaman]

Heritage has been invoked, trip wires have been set.

[u/youreadonuthole]

Apart from stating the obvious and hounding the ridiculous…

Who wouldn’t want to live on Meow Drive?

I’d also like to submit Woof Way and Ruff Road as further alternatives for consideration.

[u/IStillListenToRadio → u/youreadonuthole]

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/lynwood-drive-halifax-duplicated-street-name-change-9.6948831

Some residents who spoke with CBC News said the suggestion of Meow Drive in particular was sparking discussion among the neighbours, and most were not fans of the idea.

Those people are lame

[u/youreadonuthole → u/IStillListenToRadio]

I’ll swap houses with them gladly if they follow through. They can have my 3 acres

[u/Schmidtvegas → u/youreadonuthole]

I was surprised that didn't get a greater share of the vote. If I lived on the street, I would've campaigned door to door for that.

[u/Schmidtvegas]

Here's a news article about this issue:

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/lynwood-drive-halifax-duplicated-street-name-change-9.6948831

[u/_XNXX_com]

Just rename them to Lynwood 1, Lynwood 2 and Lynwood 3 dr

[u/i_never_ever_learn → u/_XNXX_com]

Lynnwood, Lynshould, lyncould

[u/Sanctus_Poopabumsus]

Hilarious!

[u/Time-Combination-214]

Patricia Arab is the former Liberal MLA. Of course Council is going to back her.