City of Rochester
News Release
(Monday, April 21, 2014) – Mayor Lovely A. Warren today announced that the City has chosen names for the new street and plaza created as part of the Midtown Rising redevelopment. The Mayor and a City committee have decided on ‘Midtown Commons’ for the new open space; and ‘Andrew Langston Way’ for the new street from among 328 suggestions submitted to the City between March 17 and March 31.
The names will be submitted for City Planning Commission consideration at its May 12 meeting. Upon Planning Commission recommendation, the names will be forwarded to City Council for approval at their May 20 meeting.
“It is with great pleasure that I submit these names to the Planning Commission to commemorate both a person and a place that are very dear to the hearts of all Rochesterians,” said Mayor Warren. “Midtown Commons honors both the importance of Midtown Plaza to Rochester's history and the new space’s common use for everyone now and into the future that is consistent with the original Midtown vision—a collaboration for the benefit of the city of Rochester and its residents as well as retail and commercial businesses and arts groups. Midtown Commons speaks to what this community is all about.
“As for Andrew Langston Way, I can think of no better way to pay homage to Mr. Langston, who died in 2010 and was the founder and CEO of WDKX-FM 103.9,” the Mayor continued. “In April of 1974, WDKX went on the air as one of the first black-owned radio stations in New York and today is one of the only locally owned radio stations in Rochester. Just as Midtown Plaza was the first of its kind for indoor malls, Andrew Langston was a true Rochester pioneer for African-Americans in the field of broadcasting.”
The new streets at the Midtown site are expected to be completed and open by the end of May. A dedication ceremony is being planned for the newly named street and open space.
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News Media: For more information, contact City Communications Director Christine Christopher at 428-7135.