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To designate the first block of East Charity Street in honor of the late Lillie Ann Estes. (3rd District)
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WHEREAS, upon information and belief of Council, Lillie Ann Estes was born in Hampton, Virginia and came to the city of Richmond in 1977 to attend Virginia Commonwealth University where she earned a bachelor’s degree in justice and public safety; and
WHEREAS, upon information and belief of Council, Lillie Ann Estes became a leading voice in promoting fair housing practices and used her apartment in Gilpin Court as a headquarters for housing activism; and
WHEREAS, upon information and belief of Council, Lillie Ann Estes’ activities and honors included founding Residents of Public Housing Against Mass Eviction and the Charles S. Gilpin Community Farm, Community Justice Film Series; involvement with the Maggie L. Walker Initiative for Expanding Opportunity and Fighting Poverty, the Virginia Poverty Law Center, Hope in the Cities, the Community Justice Network; attending Harvard University’s Charles Hamilton Houston Institute for Race and Justice; receiving the Mothers of Courage Award from Mothers for Justice and Equality; and running for the office of the mayor of the city of Richmond in 2016; and
WHEREAS, Lillie Ann Estes died on January 31, 2019, with memorial services being held at Sixth Mount Zion Baptist Church in Jackson Ward before she was laid to rest in Forest Lawn Cemetery in the city of Richmond, Virginia; and
WHEREAS, the City desires to memorialize Lillie Ann Estes’ contributions to social activism and community service in the city of Richmond by designating the first block of East Charity Street in her honor as “Lillie Estes Lane;” 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 first block of East Charity Street shall be designated in honor of Lillie Ann Estes as “Lillie Estes Lane,” pursuant to this ordinance.
§ 2. Effect of Designation. The designation of the first block of East Charity 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 “Lillie Estes Lane,” as set forth in section 1 of this ordinance.
§ 4. Effective Date. This ordinance shall be in force and effect upon adoption.