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City of Seattle
Gregory J. Nickels, Mayor
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NEWS ADVISORY
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| SUBJECT: Mayor gives Fremont Troll his own road
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
7/8/2005 1:30:00 PM |
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
Patrice Gillespie-Smith (206) 615-0486
Office of the Mayor (206) 684-4000
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Mayor gives Fremont Troll his own road
Troll unlikely to release hold on VW, smile
SEATTLE - Mayor Greg Nickels sent legislation to the council this week renaming
the street in front of the Fremont Troll “Troll Avenue North.”
“This is something the community has wanted for a long time, and it
helps emergency personnel differentiate between the two roads,” Nickels
said. “Plus, it honors one of our most famous citizens, the Fremont Troll.”
The section to be renamed is the two blocks of Aurora that runs beneath the
Aurora Avenue Bridge, between the Ship Canal and the Troll statue. The name
change will affect nine adjacent properties, both residential and commercial.
The troll, who has been living in Fremont since 1990, is pleased with the
change.
“I hope people are attracted by the idea of traveling up and down ‘Troll
Ave,’ and that there’s more traffic,” the troll said. “I’ve
been meaning to get a new car for a while.”
In order to change the name of the street, the Fremont Neighborhood Council
first gathered the signatures of adjacent property owners on a petition to
the Seattle Department of Transportation. Along with the support of affected
property owners, fees are required to change the name of a street. The City
also considers how the name change will affect how well people can find the
new street, especially emergency service providers.
“Aurora Avenue North has always been a source of confusion for visitors
and emergency vehicles,” said Dic Selin, Fremont Neighborhood Council
board member. “And what’s at the head of the road? The troll.”
The Fremont Chamber of Commerce and Fremont Works also support the name change.
After the ordinance is passed by Council and the Mayor, it usually takes about
30 days for the name to take effect. During those 30 days, maps and computer
systems are changed and signs are made and posted. SDOT notifies the Address
Supervisor at the US Post Office of the change of the name of the street. Each
resident or business submits change of address notices to their local post
office.
“We’re just hoping he doesn’t come to City Hall in person,” the
mayor said.
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Office of the Mayor
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