Title
To designate the 600 block of Judah Street in honor of the late Abraham Peyton Skipwith. (2nd District)
Body
WHEREAS, upon information and belief of Council, Abraham Peyton Skipwith was a Black person who purchased his freedom and went on to buy land in 1793 in what would later become Jackson Ward; and
WHEREAS, upon information and belief of Council, Abraham Peyton Skipwith built a cottage on his land in Jackson Ward at 400 West Duval Street, which had the distinction of being one of the first dwellings in Jackson Ward; and
WHEREAS, Abraham Peyton Skipwith left the property at 400 West Duval Street to his wife, which property was later inherited by his granddaughter and remained in his family’s ownership until 1905; and
WHEREAS, the City desires to memorialize Abraham Peyton Skipwith’s contribution to the history of Jackson Ward by designating the 600 block of Judah Street in his honor as “Abraham Skipwith Alley;” 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 600 blcok of Judah Street shall be designated in honor of Abraham Peyton Skipwith as “Abraham Skipwith Alley,” pursuant to this ordinance.
§ 2. Effect of Designation. The designation of the 600 block of Judah Street made pursuant to this ordinance shall be honorary only, shall not replace the existing name of the road, and shall have no effect on the address of any property with an address on the designated road. 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 road in question such that a reasonable person could not conclude that the commemorative signs reflect the actual name of the road. The commemorative signs (i) shall be affixed to a sign pole installed at each end of the block designated in section 1 of this ordinance for the purpose of fulfilling the requirements of this section or to any existing sign identifying the block designated in section 1 of this ordinance located at each end of the block designated in section 1 of this ordinance and (ii) shall bear the name “Abraham Skipwith Alley,” as set forth in section 1 of this ordinance.
§ 4. Effective Date. This ordinance shall be in force and effect upon adoption.