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To designate the 400 block of East Ladies Mile Road in honor of the late Melvin L. Davis, Sr. (3rd District)
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WHEREAS, upon information and belief of the Council, the late Melvin L. Davis, Sr., who passed away on February 20, 2006, grew up in the Providence Park neighborhood of the city of Richmond and graduated from Armstrong High School in 1935; and
WHEREAS, upon information and belief of the Council, after graduating from high school, Melvin L. Davis, Sr. married his beloved wife of 58 years, the late Helen Randolph Davs; and
WHEREAS, upon information and belief of the Council, after serving his country as a civilian painter, Melvin L. Davis, Sr. successfully completed the construction of 40 homes, which spurred further construction and growth in the city of Richmond area; and
WHEREAS, upon information and belief of the Council, in 1947, Melvin L. Davis, Sr. cofounded the Davis & Myers Construction Company with his brother, Leonard Davis, and brother-in-law Welford and Harold Myers; and
WHEREAS, upon information and belief of the Council, in 1960, Melvin L. Davis, Sr. started another business, Melvin L. Davis General Contractor, and, in 1968, he and his brother Leonard founded the Davis Brothers Construction Company; and
WHEREAS, upon information and belief of the Council, Davis Brothers Construction Company began as a painting contractor and residential builder, and Melvin L. Davis, Sr. continued the commitment to excellence and provided years of leadership to the company; and
WHEREAS, upon information and belief of the Council, in 1968, Langston Davis assumed leadership of Davis Brothers Construction Company after his father, Melvin L. Davis, Sr.; and
WHEREAS, upon information and belief of the Council, the Davis Brothers Construction Company is one of the largest minority-owned general contractors in the Mid-Atlantic region; and
WHEREAS, upon information and belief of the Council, Davis Brothers Construction Company was involved in developments for Virginia Union University, and build and renovated more than 100 area churches; and
WHEREAS, upon information and belief of the Council, Davis Brothers Construction Company renovated the Imperial Building at 5th and Franklin Streets that is now home to the Richmond Free Press and was involved in renovating the Altria Theater, formerly known as the Mosque, the Richmond Convention Center, and buildings on the grounds of the Commonwealth of Virginia’s State Capitol; and
WHEREAS, upon information and belief of the Council, in 1988, the Davis Brothers Construction Company was listed among Black Enterprise magazine’s 100 Top Black Businesses in America; and
WHEREAS, upon information and belief of the Council, Melvin L. Davis, Sr. served as a member of the National Advisory Council of the Small Business Administration, the Board of Real Estate Tax Assessment for the City of Richmond, and as an honorary chairperson of the Richmond Urban League Fund Raising Banquets; and
WHEREAS, upon information and belief of the Council, Melvin L. Davis, Sr. was active in many civic organizations, especially those that supported young people, and received numerous honors from the Brookland and North Richmond Young Men’s Christian Associations for his volunteer work and renovations to real estate; and
WHEREAS, upon information and belief of the Council, Melvin L. Davis, Sr. was one of the oldest living members of Providence Park Baptist Church and contributed his time and immense talents as a member of the trustee board, deacon, church treasurer, Sunday school teacher, superintendent of Sunday school, and Boy Scout master; and
WHEREAS, the City desires to memorialize the life of Melvin L. Davis, Sr. for his contributions to the civic life of the city of Richmond by designating the 400 block of East Ladies Mile Road in his honor; and
WHEREAS, because this designation is honorary only, the provisions of sections 8-7 through 8-10 of the Code of the City of Richmond (2020), as amended, do not apply to the designation made hereby or to any signs erected pursuant to this ordinance;
NOW, THEREFORE,
THE CITY OF RICHMOND HEREBY ORDAINS:
§ 1. Designation of Street Block for Honorary Name. The 400 block of East Ladies Mile Road shall be designated as “Melvin L. Davis Way” in honor of Melvin L. Davis, Sr. pursuant to this ordinance.
§ 2. Effect of Designation. The designation of the portion of the street made pursuant to this ordinance shall be honorary only, shall not replace the existing name of the street, and shall have no effect on the address of any property with an address on the designated street block. The sole effect of designation pursuant to this ordinance shall be to authorize the placement of commemorative signs in accordance with this ordinance memorializing the designation in honor of the named person.
§ 3. Administration of Ordinance. The Department of Public Works shall implement this ordinance by installing, as soon as practicable after the adoption of this ordinance, and maintaining commemorative signs in accordance with this section. The commemorative signs shall be clearly distinct from the street signs used to identify the portion of the street in question such that a reasonable person could not conclude that the commemorative signs reflect the actual name of the street. The commemorative signs (i) shall be affixed to a sign pole installed at each end of the portion of the street designated in section 1 of this ordinance for the purpose of fulfilling the requirements of this section or to any existing sign identifying the portion of the street designated in section 1 of this ordinance located at each end of the portion of the street designated in section 1 of this ordinance and (ii) shall bear the name of the person as set forth in section 1 of this ordinance.
§ 4. Effective Date. This ordinance shall be in force and effect upon adoption.