posted 10-12-2009 03:50 PM               

To mark the city's place in space-travel history, the City Council may rename a section of Clark Avenue in honor of the Columbia space shuttle and its crew.

The Columbia orbiter, as well as all other space shuttle orbiters, was built at the old NASA site at Lakewood Boulevard and Clark, where Downey Studios and other properties now stand.

...on Tuesday night, the council will consider two options: renaming Clark "Columbia Way" between Lakewood Boulevard and Imperial Highway, or a longer stretch between Lakewood and Foster Road.

The cost to the city is estimated at $500 per intersection, totaling $1,500 or $3,500, depending on which option the council chooses, according to a city staff report.

Renaming Clark Avenue to Columbia Way would pay homage to the astronauts killed in the disaster, the Downey workers who helped build the shuttle and recognize the forthcoming interactive space museum at the site, the Columbia Learning Center, said Mayor Mario Guerra.

posted 10-16-2009 11:54 AM               

The residents of the street protested the change, as it would have affected their driver licenses, mail and GPS systems.

posted 10-22-2009 07:54 AM               

A divided City Council agreed this week to rename Clark Avenue in honor of the Space Shuttle Columbia and the new learning center built in its name.

In a special session, the City Council voted 3-2 to change Clark to Columbia Way inside city limits, Mayor Mario Guerra said Wednesday.

posted 10-26-2009 02:56 PM               

New street signs are in place at the city limits, and the others will be in place soon!

We congratulate the city on this decision.