Annandale residents oppose an honorary name for Little River Turnpike
A group of Annandale residents unhappy with a proposal to give Little River Turnpike an honorary name recognizing the Korean community is hosting a meeting to discuss the plan next week.
The group, Annandale United, complains that the Mason District Supervisor’s office didn’t do enough community outreach on the proposal, and many people didn’t have a chance to comment.
The meeting is scheduled for April 17 at 6 p.m. at the American Legion Post at 4206 Daniels Ave. in Annandale.
Korean American residents had proposed an honorary name for a section of Little River Turnpike to honor the contributions of Korean Americans to the Annandale community. It would be purely honorary. No one’s postal address would change.
Supervisor Andres Jimenez held two meetings on the proposal – in January and February – and asked residents to respond to a survey. Several potential names were listed on the survey, including Gangnam Street and Korean Boulevard.
Jimenez has not released the results of the survey. “Right now, our team is focused on the county’s budget after which we will discuss next steps on the proposed honorary naming,” he wrote in an email. “Once the county’s budget is passed, we will share more information with our residents about potential next steps.”
A spokesperson for Annandale United echoed some of the complaints raised at the community meetings: Annandale is a multi-ethnic community, no one group should be put above the others, and we should recognize the historic significance of Little River Turnpike.
Rather than changing the “commercial branding” of the area, they suggested putting up a historic marker as an alternative.
Related story: Annandale residents express their views on renaming Little River Turnpike
“There was frustration; business groups and community groups were not aware of the survey,” said the spokesperson, who asked not to be identified due to concerns about negative feedback.
Annandale United says many people didn’t know there was an online survey because the link was only sent to Mason District residents who subscribe to the supervisor’s email newsletter. That left out many Annandale residents west of Heritage Drive who live in the Braddock District.
They said people knocked on neighbors’ doors and asked them to fill out the survey. When they tried to drop the surveys off at the supervisor’s office, the staff refused to accept them. A petition signed by 67 business owners was also rejected.
“We’re concerned about the process,” they said. “There was an assumption that no one could oppose this.” They said a lot of people who support the name change do not live in Annandale.
According to Annandale United, the owners of non-Korean restaurants are concerned that if people think of Annandale as Koreatown with only Korean restaurants, that would hurt their business.
“We have lots of other ethnic food outlets,” they said. “We would rather have Annandale promoted as a truly inclusive community.”
13 responses to “Annandale residents oppose an honorary name for Little River Turnpike”
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Agree with those who state that the area is multiethnic in both residents and businesses and providing a Korean or Vietnamese branding name to the area is uncalled for and confusing.
If Korean or Vietnamese residents want to honor their relatives and themselves than place a sign on the slice of memorial land at Backlick, Maple and Columbia Road.
I’m adding Vietnamese, as Annandale also has a large number of Vietnamese immigrants, as well. The sign should recognize both, if made and erected.
You can’t both claim to be the spokesperson for a group and hide behind the shield of anonymity. That’s not how it works…
I love that the results of the survey haven’t been released. That means the results weren’t what they wanted. Now they have to regroup. Classic!
There are more Vietnamese than Koreans in Annandale. Also, we are AMERICA, and we are unified under the American Flag. White Americans have been long term residents as well. No one group should be recognized above others. Besides, all you have to do is look at business signs along LRT and you will immediately know this has a strong Korean presence.
There is a ‘Saigon Blvd.’ on Falls Church street
It’s on Wilson Boulevard in front of the Eden Center.
“Unified” America. Woodrow Wilson Bridge, Roosevelt Blvd., Thomas Jefferson Dr. . . . . Nobody understand the Whites!!! Haha
It’s just an honorary name! Can anyone think of another town where hundreds of Korean businesses are concentrated in one area? If they’re paying that much in taxes and helping boost the local economy, they certainly deserve a simple honorary sign that says ‘Korean Way.’
PREVIOUS THOUGHTS ON ANNANDALE HONORARY STREET NAMING Dan McKinnon
Supervisor Jimenez, greetings from one who is not trying to live in the past…but who did. I have been out of it for a while, but would like to drop in and help.
I understand that a decision on honorary street naming has not been made. You saw my thoughts of three weeks ago. I am sorry that I was unable to attend the meetings.
Now I hear there is rancor in the community that is making the issue more about business than recognition. (“it is a marketing attempt” … “To enhance the level of their businesses…since “there are too many similar entities competing” … “Why should one group be given so much preferential treatment?”)
I view it sad that thoughts like that are, even to a small extent, exist.
The normal citizen is hardly even aware when we use public land to honor local individuals who served their community, paid or unpaid. “Annandale Center Drive” became “Tom Davis Drive”. “Winter Lane” was a beautiful way to thank a lovely lady, and it was special that Helen Winter was still with us to see the civic honor she deserved. The latter was not true for Eileen Garnett when we created and dedicated the “Eileen Garnett Civic Space”, a park honoring her public service. She was no doubt there in spirit.
All were seamless recognitions through a process non-bureaucratic and non-confrontational. This one should too.
From the beginning I supported recognition of an Honorary Street Naming to recognize the Korean American contribution to the local economy. But I felt we could expand the honor and use it as an opportunity to tell the real reason we have a bond, a relationship larger and more important than local commercial ties. That story has to do with joint sacrifice in war.
This is an opportunity for education.
Pick a small street in the Central Business District. If not practical, pick one long or two short blocks of a longer street and name it, “Panmunjom Way”. Place an appropriate plaque or a small sign attached to the larger sign. I like markers/plaques with explanations.
With that decision one can just picture how the story of “WHY”, and the presence of “WHO”, would help bring Annandale together. Make that story the focus of the dedication ceremony.
“WHY” would bring us to 2025. So much of today’s news on world events takes us to the Western Pacific. “WHO” could bring us the “Korean War Veterans Association” and understanding the ties between two countries. The “Korean War” is living history. I can picture what a community naming ceremony could look like. I can imagine the wonderful educational value that would come to nearby schools about the heritage in which they live. “Koreatown” might receive understanding and respect. There are many. All fit. All are American.
The “Korean American Association of Greater Washington Metropolitan Area”, with its office in Annandale, might even sponsor.
At the west end of our small community is Annandale High School. A beautifully diverse student body with over 50 languages spoken. On the east end of our town is Thomas Jefferson High School, the top-rated high school in Virginia… maybe everywhere. Its student enrolment is over half Asian ethnicity.
I am concerned that in a rush to be fair the process has become complex and divisive; not as inclusive as it could be. County instructions on street naming exist, but not honorary street naming. Naming goes to the BoS for approval. Let us keep this one at your level. The right to honor local people, absent contrary statute or superior regulation, should be no higher than our Supervisor. You are one of us. We chose you.
Let’s ignore state roads and highways…. until someday when there exists an easy process.
I have talked with the “International City/County Management Association” (ICMA), asking if there have been any studies on how communities could, or should, honor citizens with street naming, and if there are any protocols worth study? What do other political units do? I will let you know what they say.
Supervisor, let us: (1) proceed with a decision, the rumor mill says it has already been made; (2) Use the idea offered in this email, or (3) pause and rethink. Maybe we need a process to ensure future efforts to honor our citizens are uncomplicated, easily understood, and with decisions made at the lowest possible level. Judgement should be in the hands of those with local observation and understanding.
Most respectfully, Dan McKinnon
PS I have been fortunate to have worked in many places. In my office in Naples, Italy an employee kept a small sign on her desk. It was telling. It was pointed at the boss … me. “La gatta frettolosa ha partorito i gattini ciechi.”
Translated it says, “The hasty cat gives birth to blind kittens”.
On Saturday, February 1, 2025 at 11:15:28 PM EST, The McKinnons wrote:
HI FRIENDS. FIRST AN APOLOGY TO MY FRIEND STEVE LEE AND ALL. I HAVE BEEN MEDICALLY OUT OF IT FOR THE PAST SEVERAL DAYS AND COULD NOT JOIN IN THE CONVERSATON. STEVES’ IDEA IS A GOOD ONE AND HE ASKED FOR MY SUPPORT. I HAD IDEAS TO OFFER HIM BUT NEVER HAD THE CHANCE. BELOW IS MY DRAFT NOTE TO STEVE OF SOME DAYS AGO.
FROM WHAT I READ IN THE COMMENTS AFTER THE MASON DISTRICT MEETING, THERE WAS LITTLE SUPPORT. MAYBE WE NEED TO LOOK AT IT DIFFERENTLY. OFFERED HERE IS MORE THAN A STREET’S HONORARY NAMING.
I HAVE BEEN TO KOREA MORE THAN ONCE, EVEN TO PANMUNJOM STEPING INTO NORTH KOREA SO I COULD ADD IT TO MY “BEEN THERE BRAGING LIST”. WIKIPEDIA SAYS THE KOREAN AMERICAN POPULATON IS AROUND 3 MILLION, MAKING THE USA THE LARGEST OVERSEAS COMMUNITY OF KOREANS.
SO, LET’S TAKE THE GOOD IDEA FROM STEVE. PICK A STREET, NOT OUR MAIN STREET, AND MAKE IT MORE THAN THAT. LET’S CHOSE A NAME THAT REMINDS ALL OF OUR JOINT HISTORY, COMRADSHIP, INCLUDING LOSSES IN A COMMON CAUSE. INVOLVE THE KOREAN AMERICANS VETEREANS ASSOCIATION AND OTHERS WHO MIGHT BRING IDEAS. LET’S MAKE OURS A MOMENT OF CAMARADERIE.
It can be done. DAN MCKINNON
(Former President Annandale Chamber of Commerce, Chair Annandale Central Business Planning Committee, Chair, Fairfax County Commercial Revitalization Coalition, Chair, Fairfax County Commercial Revitalization and Reinvestment Advisory Group, President, Pinecrest Heights Community Association, all while having fun in a wonderful community.)
Hi Steve, it looks like you are back.
I am still with you on the idea on crafting a way to connect the Korean American presence and contribution to our community. But why Gangnam as a street name, and not places that reflect our joint history … where we lost lives in comradeship. It should be Chosin, Puson or Inchon. We could make it an important moment and involve the American Korea Veterans Association, Embassy, etc.
I know Gangnam is an important district of Seoul, and “Gangman Style” is popular in the world of hot music. But Gangnam is not known not for anything I can find on our joint heritage…just its nightlife.
…”in Gangnam you can find yourself partying until the sun comes up”.
It might be fun to make that Annandale’s future. But for now, let’s take your idea and create a moment in history.
This is outrageous! No one group should be given such an honorary position in a multi-ethnic community!! And then to not give local businesses the opportunity to take the survey is beyond belief. I’m sickened.
OMG, so much ado about nothing! But one question: Why are residents of the Braddock District even mentioned, since the honorary name change would only be made in the Mason District?
Roxy… Little River Turnpike in Annandale runs through both Districts. Braddock District begins at Heritage Drive and Little River Turnpike, one side of Heritage is Mason, the other Braddock.
Why not use this opportunity to change John Marr Drive. John Marr was the first confederate officer killed during the Civil War. Since Fairfax County wants to wipe its confederate history away this street name is ripe for change and a compromise especially since hardly anyone knows about John Marr.