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Honorary name proposed for John Marr Drive

John Marr Drive.

Mason Supervisor Andres Jimenez has backed away from a proposal to give Little River Turnpike an honorary name in recognition of the Korean community’s contributions to Annandale.

That idea has generated significant opposition from local residents.

Instead, Jimenez proposed a motion at the June 10 Board of Supervisors meeting to give the honorary name recognizing the Koreans to John Marr Drive between Little River Turnpike and Columbia Pike. That idea had been proposed as an alternative by community members.

The motion was approved by the board. It calls for the board’s Legislative Committee to discuss the name change at its Sept. 16 meeting and consider presenting it to the next General Assembly.

Related story: Objections raised on the process for giving Little River Turnpike an honorary name

9 responses to “Honorary name proposed for John Marr Drive

  1. So, if I am reading this correctly, instead of an honorary name, Jimenez is making a permanent name change to a road that has been called John Marr drive for well over 50 years. I appreciate the Korean input to the community, but there are lots of types of people here also who have contributed. Why are we honoring one group above the others? There must be some other way – a plaque or sign somewhere to accomplish this honoring.

    1. Per the article, clearly states (3rd paragraph) it would be an honorary name.

      Regardless, does it really matter to you if they give a road an honorary name for the Korean community? Does it change your life in any way? I get we are a divided country but I’m just mystified (repeatedly) why folks choose the battles they do. So many more important things in this world that have a real impact on folks’ lives (whatever side of the aisle you are on).

      1. It is not a “side of the aisle issue”. The article states that they would seek approval from the Legislature. That seemed to me that they were requesting a permanent change. I doubt the Legislature approves honorary names. I am glad you are concentrating on the more important things.

    2. If I read it correctly, per the text he is giving the honorary name to John Marr rather than Little River Turnpike, thus leaving the John Marr part intact – just like would have happened at Little River Turnpike. Cities and counties across the country and world are able to recognize groups and individuals honorarily without all the teeth gnashing that we have been going through. But guess what – you get to keep the John Marr name intact!

  2. The opposition clearly shows the sentiment towards Asian-Americans and their social position in society as persons of color. Face it, no one would bat an eye if the this was for an honorary African-American figure or even a Hispanic figure. The fact the Korean-American community is being honored triggers folks. Asians already suffer enough from perpetual foreignism; xenophobia, and other forms of hate. Let them have their moment as true Americans that have done good for our community, too.

    For me, it’s a start in the right direction because almost 100% of streets around me are Anglo and Germanic names. People should be beyond excited for a critical Annandale minority group is being honored and paving the way, and other groups will be honored in the near future. No need to throw shade because an exhaustingly dominant minority group in the area got recognized. Chill.

    1. I don’t think the opposition is anti-asian at all. It is a reaction to a perceived attempt to wipe out the older history of the area. The Koreans have only been impacting Annandale for a few decades (the 1990s), compared to the 340+ years of Annandale history. John Marr Drive is less objectionable because it has only been around since the late 1960s, and it is not even clear who it is named for. There was a Confederate militiaman of that name, but he never came anywhere near Annandale. (However, the developer of the shopping area who built the road was also named Marr. The road is probably named for him.) Either way, there is no historical significance to John Marr Drive. (Little River Turnpike on the other hand is both locally and historically very significant and dates from around 1801.) A secondary factor in the reaction is that some people perceive an attempt by the Koreans to appropriate Annandale and re-make it into a Koreatown. In the past, vocal Koreans have said flat-out that they wanted to re-make Annandale in the image of their home in Korea. Their proposals have included turning Annandale into a massive (and by American tastes, garish) underground shopping area, with everything exclusively Korean. Those crazed proposals were serious, and quite offensive to many people living in Annandale. Some people probably remember that and feel alienated by invaders who do not like Annandale but just long to re-create their foreign homeland. To me, that’s just an insane business idea that isn’t ever going to happen. And I think it’s great that we have a concentration of Korean restaurants. (I want there to be a good variety of local restaurants, but having a nexus of Korean restaurants is dandy.) I certainly don’t have anything against Koreans or any other asians. Not even lots of them. My objections are only about preserving the history of the town. One major thing about the controversy you will note is that NOBODY objects AT ALL to putting up a recognition plaque ANYWHERE in Annandale, honoring the contributions of the local Koreans, who have been prominent business developers for the last few decades. And personally I don’t care if they even PERMANENTLY and officially renamed John Marr Drive to something Korean. I’ve lived here since 1961.

  3. I just read the linked “Objections raised…” article and the comments there were pretty acidic. This crop here is much more civil in comparison. An attitude that local home/business values are in jeopardy with this proposed action is another form of NIMBY thinking that usually dissolves in a short time. Annandale is an “inside-the-beltway” neighborhood…values will not be impacted one bit. Just to be sure – get some insights from local real estate agents – their responses will likely dissolve that NIMBY attitude real quick.

  4. Funny how everyone uses the word
    ” community” …..they bought up annandale to make MONEY-not build a community. And the Latino “community” ? Hah no such thing- the Salvadoran don’t like the Bolivian- the Nicaraguan don’t like the mexicans- Venezuelan don’t like anyone- they all seem to hate Africans. White people in this area are more welcoming to all these people regardless of your country of origin. Let’s celebrate and expand THE AMERICAN COMMUNITY- if people want to join great – if they don’t -I don’t need to celebrate their culture or care about something they left behind to enjoy the American dream.

  5. Connelly Way… in honor of our late 11th District Congressman. Give the honary Korean kudos to one or several of Korean owned business centers in Annandale.

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