Annandale residents express their views on renaming Little River Turnpike
About 70 people came to a community meeting at the Mason Government Center on Jan. 30 to learn about and express their opinions on a proposal to rename a portion of Little River Turnpike to honor the contributions of Korean Americans.
Mason Supervisor Andres Jimenez stressed that the name change would be totally honorary. “No one needs to change their address. No maps will change,” he said.
The name change would refer to the section of Little River Turnpike in Annandale between Evergreen Lane and Hummer Road.
“This is the first step to a transparent process. No decisions have been made,” Jimenez said.
There will be another community meeting on Feb. 5, at 6 p.m., at the Korean American Association of Greater Washington, 7004 Little River Turnpike, #L.
While the proposal initially suggested the name be changed to Gangnam Street, a survey handed out at last night’s meeting listed several other options: Korea Street, Korea Boulevard, Korea Way, Koreatown Road, Sejong Road, Arirang Road, and Hangang Road.
Related story: Honorary name proposed for Annandale’s main street
Several non-Koreans at the meeting said they opposed the name change because Annandale is a diverse community with a variety of ethnic groups and one group shouldn’t be favored over the others. As one person said, “We don’t need to give one group a higher level of recognition.”
“Little River Turnpike is a historic road,” said a longtime Annandale resident. “To think of it as otherwise is disrespectful to other groups that have contributed to the community.” Someone else called on the supervisor to focus on more important things like crime and code violations.
In response, Jimenez said the Korean-American community approached him with the name change. If other groups come forward with a similar proposal, it would also be considered.
Steve Lee, president of the Korean American Association of Greater Washington, presented the name change idea to Jimenez last fall. Korean Americans have been part of the community since the late 1980s, he said. Over 50 percent of the businesses along Little River Turnpike in Annandale are owned by Korean Americans.
The name change would not cost taxpayers anything, Lee said. It would be totally funded by the Korean-American community.
Annandale has long been informally known as Koreatown, said a resident who immigrated from Korea in the early 1970s. Noting that there is a Little Italy and Koreatown in New York, she said, “this place is special for me and my family. This is where people come for authentic Korean food.” Honoring the Korean community “doesn’t offend other groups.”
Not all non-Koreans opposed the name change. “It’s about time we have recognition for the Korean community in Annandale,” said one resident. “This is an opportunity to highlight Annandale. I’m glad this is moving forward.”
Andres urged participants to let him know their views. “This is your opportunity to voice your opinion on whether you want a name change and what it should be,” he said. “We’re having an open discussion to figure out how to go forward.”
Based on community feedback, Jimenez said he will determine whether to present the name change as a Board Matter for a vote by the Board of Supervisors. An official renaming requires 51 percent support from property owners.
Several people at the meeting said they didn’t know about the name change proposal until shortly before the meeting. They urged Jimenez to conduct more public outreach, including emails to HOAs.
Jimenez agreed to send out additional notifications before the Feb. 5 meeting.
34 responses to “Annandale residents express their views on renaming Little River Turnpike”
Leave a Reply to Alicia Loloiian Cancel reply
I’d be okay with those other names for that part of the road even though obviously there are other groups that are also present in Annandale. Annandale’s Korean population is a big part of what makes it great and interesting and different from other parts of NOVA.
I don’t think it fits with what the Gangnam district is reportedly like (I’ve never been). It also starts with the word ‘gang’. While that might just be an unfortunate coincidence, it’s not a name I’d choose to associate with the area. We already have Gallows Road, and that’s enough of roads with a negative connotation for this part of Annandale.
My heritage is Korean, but as an American, leave the it alone. Spend more time reducing crime.
agree
I also agree
Agree. It is a historic name. The name is not a reflection of businesses along the road.
agree! focus on reducing crime in Annandale.
Both reducing crime and providing an honorary street name can happen. They can occur simultaneously. As a Korean/American, both heritage exists simultaneously.
I will only support this if they also rename AHS “George Jetson HS”
😄😆
Unfortunate name those not of Korean decent may associate it with gangs.
If they want to pay tribute to Korean contributions, I don’t have an issue w/a few blox .. like maybe from Ravensworth/Backlick to John Marr Dr., where the bulk of their biz is.. but not the whole length of 236/LRT span in central “downtown Gr8r Annandale”! Geeezz.. it’s already called ‘Asiadale’& ‘Seoul City 2.0’! There’s lots of Hispanic, Chinese & Italian restaurants that also deserve recognition 4 their positive influences.. We don’t need/want a total takeover.. 😔😒
I like your response but wish to explain further why no change should be made to any part of our communities Little River TNPK. (1) This was the first Toll Road to be built in Virginia and the entire United States by an act authorized by the Virginia Legislators in 1795 stating how it would need to meet specific requirements. The first company given the commission failed to raise enough funding and The Little River Turnpike Company then received rights to issue stocks to fund construction. (2.) They began actual construction in 1802 in Alexandria and reached Annandale Dec. 1806. After receiving approval by the commissioner for oversight it opened for business in Jan. 1807, at what now is Ravensworth and Little River across from the current Annandale Toll house park. (3.) The roads original route covered a distance of 34 miles, reaching Aldie Va . in 1811. Currently we HAVE the last remaining section of the original road that proudly carries the name of LITTLE RIVER TNPK, the original name it has had since its beginning in 1802. (5.) This is our historic history and occupies the very space located in the HEART OF THE ANNANDALE community which our Korean Business’s wish to have as their HONORARY named street. Don’t be fooled by Honorary they intend as stated in their request they would pay for the new street signs. Just this past January 2025 our BELOVED LITTLE RIVER TURNPIKE had its 218th BIRTHDAY without any name change. That is longevity. (5) Most of the Korean businesses have been here a short time compared to our community itself. We are open for all who wish to come and join our community and should not give credit/favoritism to any specific group who came and built a business here. It was their choice. They must compete on equal terms. Our community would also like to have a larger variety in restaurants and shops move here.
These are my thoughts and hope our community will attend the next meeting on 2-19-25 at 6:00 p.m.at the Masion District Supervisor’s office on Columbia Pike and VOTE to oppose the request to give preference to the Korean business community and their request to change our long-standing heritage. YOUR VOTE IS REQUESTED if you are unable to attend you are able to pick up a ballot and vote at the district office on Columbia Pike.
SAVE OUR HISTORIC ROAD, once it is gone it will be forever lost to History.
I’m against the name change. Leave it alone.
Very SAD —
Aren’t WE ‘One Community’
‘One Nation’
‘Under God’
“Little River Turnpike”
Is And Should Be
Why Only ‘Korean’ Represented
I have been here since 1967
I am Irish-Scotch-English
With the like in the Annandale area
Along with Spanish-Bolivian-Chinese-Japanese and Many Other Nationalities
I want part of Little River Turnpike
Route 236
To represent Irish -Scotch – English- Spanish – Japanese – Latin American, et al
Please GET REAL
This Will Get Way Out Of Hand
I agree we are ‘One Community’ and ‘One Nation.’ Im not Korean, and my business is located in Annandale , I oppose to change the name
With a budget shortfall of 300 million in Fairfax, and last year being 240 Green, now Fairfax is looking to cut fire safety budgets, at this time I think they should take care of what’s needed, and leave the Historic name alone. Also the sold the curriculum for the Thomas Jefferson school of science and technology to China for $3.5 million, they should think of the people in the students and figure the budget instead of doing things that aren’t pressing!
“Also the sold the curriculum for the Thomas Jefferson school of science and technology to China for $3.5 million, they should think of the people in the students and figure the budget instead of doing things that aren’t pressing!”
What does this sentence mean?
Leave the name alone, it’s the name I’ve known for 65 years. The Korean community here is great, but something like a Koreatown recognition sign would be fine. But I do wonder if that would discourage non-Korean shop and home owners – perhaps risky, for no real benefit.
How about compromise and rename one of the other Annandale streets that isn’t attached to the historical significance of the area?
I posted a similar idea… Medford Dr if we must embark upon this foolishness. I am from Michigan? Which street shall we rename to Michigan Dr? Which will be Viet Nam drive? Which one will be Japan drive?
This is crazy. Annandale road having two disconnected segments is bad enough. Let’s not add another mistake. Change Medford Drive if you really want to do this. This isn’t Korea, so why would we change anything to Korea xxx? What’s next? Viet Nam turnpike? Japan turnpike?
Build a monument in Mason District Park.
I hope I get to vote… No to breaking up a continuous street into discontinuous segments Law enforcement and fire department people in an emergency might have a problem due to this and someone could die just to make a few people happy.
There are plenty of Americans who live in this area with different nationalities, and it is not fair to just recognize just one culture, so we should forget about renaming Little River, and maybe set up a memorial in the Mason District, which was suggested previously.
Are there other programs such as Adopt a Highway that would make more sense than an honorary street name change?
Where’s the list of contributions? I know I could look up to see Tom Davis’s contributions. I remember being surprised about that street name change but now can’t even remember what it was originally. Boy, do I miss that Kmart.
The one business (light brick building) is a Korean Massage Parlor.
It’s confusing when streets change names along different sections. It’s been Little River Turnpike for hundreds of years. There are plenty of other opportunities to recognize the presence of Koreans. It affects far more people than just the business owners on that street. This was a town before Koreans began coming here and people with many backgrounds have contributed. We name things to honor heroes or important events, not ethnic groups. There are so many reasons not to do this and not one good reason it should be done. Don’t change it.
The name is historic which is part of what makes Annandale special.
It ‘s important to retain our history.
This is crazy. I don’t agree in changing the name of Little River, it is great that the Koreans decided to settle in this part of Annandale but there is no need to change the name of the street to give them recognition, how about the other ethnics groups? most people call Annandale “Little Korea” so, there is no need to add to this, and by doing so, you will have to give recognition to all the other ethnic groups we have here.
It’s bad enough that some of the business have their names in their native language and we have no clue what kind of business it is, they must have it in English also, this isn’t Korea, so why would we change anything. Concentrate in attracting more Americans to the area so we can have a good diversity in our town.
Leave it alone and don’t change the name! The whole community should concentrate on keeping Annandale cleaner, safer, reduce crime & get rid of panhandling! Concentrate on developing & beautify the whole area, better walkways & illumination for 236! Enforce speed limits too!
I agree we have more problems to address than this folly- cancel the meeting on feb 19th or use it for more important issues
So essentially, a nickname is being proposed for, a portion of, Little River Turnpike. It is honorary. It is not an official name change. And Little River Turnpike signs will still be present. It’s the private money and effort of individuals in the Korean-American community.
I wholeheartedly support this gift that is being proposed for Annandale.
Little River Turnpike is a historic name that has meaning. Don’t change it!
Read the article. There would be no official name change, only an honorific.
So they won’t really change the name, they’ll just change the name.
Why not put the Korean name on Tom Davis Drive instead? It is close by, and no one remembers what he did anyway. I would much rather a road honor Koreans than a Republican.