Memo2 ■ .
I Larch 1, 1 985
�J
10
Hopkins City Council
City Hall
Hopkins, Minnesota 553.43
Dear Council embers :
As you know, Hopl -ins I' is working hard to establish an
identity for the dovmtown. The confusion generated by the fact
that our main street is called Excelsior !_venue nakes directing
customers, visitors and prospective businesses to I_opl. ins a major
obstacle. Eut, the I� ainstreet Tas,•_ Force has a very logical solution
for this problem... change the name of Exclesi.or !:venue from County
Road 18 to Shady Car: _'.oad to i :ainstreet'.
On Tuesday, February 20, a meeting of all businesses along EY.celsior
Avenue froI"_ County Raod 18 to Shady Oak Road and businesses aloi�r tl:e
side streets whi may be affected, was called . during the General
I' of Hopkins P- a nstreet Promotions. The oven'rhelming consensus
was that this was a very good idea! As a matter or fact, so? e
down -town biusinlesses are already- usin` -ainstreet in their advertiSi� g
Cur proporal at this tirr_e is that the Gi tj- o: l_e :air crai - _ge t�_e
name of __ celsior Ave. , nest to ilai� .street ` effective l =ay 17, 1 x:85.
'he naiie char-e v.ould tame �IaCE' �'iit11 2, ribbon-ci�ttin" Cere_T Ony duri
L- i12n at .i -( i-:� w ee k l '� i .c '° !ia' s ce-e i)'- atiCn.
w-e cL__ �n� �_o__ o_ o�� ,:ee_' _o__ ` t_ et
Si_-cer ely:
Hop'l.ins 1.ainstreet Protect
1013 Excelsior Avenue West Hopkins, MN 55343
935 -8115
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To: . Jim Kerrigan, City Planner
March 11, 1985
From: Gordon Anderson
Whats' in a name? - Or where do we go from here?
The City Council agreed with a recommendation of the Mainstreet Project that the
name of the main street in downtown Hopkins should be changed. In the plats of
1887 and later, the main street of West Minneapolis was named Excelsior Avenue.
This name carries through from the east city limits to the west, terminating at
Shady Oak Road. A street with that name begins again two blocks south on Shady
Oak Road, going west to Excelsior. This continuation is called Excelsior Boule
vard.
In the 1950's, the County of Hennepin constructed a road on an old railroad
right -of -way from Excelsior Boulevard and Shady Oak Road easterly to the then
Excelsior Avenue and Washington Avenue (County Road 18). This stretch of road
is known as Second Street South by Hopkins Council action. This road is on the
border of Hopkins- Minnetonka from 17th Avenue South to Shady Oak Road. In Minne-
tonka it is known as Excelsior Boulevard so the property on the south is on Excel-
sior Boulevard and the property on the north is on Second Street South. And two
blocks north we have Excelsior Avenue.
The Mainstreet Project request is to change the name of Excelsior Avenue from
Washington Avenue to Shady Oak Road to "Mainstreet ". Therein may lie a problem.
In the older part of Hopkins the streets run east and west and the avenues run
north and south. Mainstreet would fellow that pattern. But what do we call
Mainstreet? Mainstreet Street or Mainstreet Avenue? Maybe Main Street, or Main-
street Boulevard or Lane or Drive? We also have Courts and Downs and Walks in
Hopkins. These probably aren't too appropriate. But should it be "Mainstreet "?
Maybe Mainstreet West.
The latest edition of Hudson Street Atlas lists a Main Avenue NW in Elk River, a
Main Avenue S.E. in Prior Lake. They list Main Streets in Anoka, Albertville,
Blaine, Carver, Coon Rpaids and Centerville. In Eden Prairie, Farmington, Hassen,
Independence, Lino Lakes and Lilydale. In Oak Grove, Rockford, St. Bonifacious,
Shakopee, St. Michael, St. Paul Park, St. Paul, Vermillion and Waconia. Main Street
East in Maple Plain, Main Street North in Stillwater, Main Street Northeast in Co-
lumbia Heights and Fridley, Main Street South in Stillwater and Main Street West in
Maple Plain. Also we find a Maine Street in Bayport-There is no "Mainstreet" listed.
A partial list of those that are involved in a name change are:
County Treasurer
Fire Underwriters
Northwestern Bell
Post Office
County Auditor
Minnegasco
Northern States Power
Rogers Cablevision
911
Hopkins Water, Sewer
Garbage, Police & Fire
Voter Registration
Drivers Licenses
Taxes
Maps by Gousha, Rand McNally, Hudson, School District, City, County, State County
surveyor, County geographical file.
A
March 11, 1985
Jim Kerrigan
Whats' in a name?
Page 2
The street named as it is is historical but it is also confusing. It no longer
is the road to Excelsior. County Road 3 (Second Street South) is now that route.
Perhaps that should carry the name Excelsior from Minneapolis to Excelsior with
the Avenue name being carried in Hopkins because of the different house number
system. The confusion part can be a negative item. The wrong call for a fire,
police or rescue need. People being bothered because of the double name of the
street from 17th to Shady Oak Road.
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