Highway 3: It starts with a name
I strongly believe that many of the false perceptions of Northfield’s Highway 3 result from the name we currently use to describe it. Highway 3, it must be some long state route. Highway — that’s for driving fast.
The reality is that most state highways in Minnesota have local names. In Northfield, Highway 246 is known as W Woodley St and S Division St, and Highway 19 is known as W 5th St and N Division St. Yet except for a small portion downtown, in the path of the existing Water Street, Highway 3 does not have a Northfield name.
Giving Highway 3 a name would change our perceptions, and begin to understand it as a critical city street (that happens to be owned and maintained by the state). The City Council has the power to establish a City name for a street, and I believe this is doable in 2012.
None of this changes the designation of the street as Minnesota Trunk Highway 3, but would allow for signage and business addresses to use a Northfield name.
So what’s in a name? These are the factors I believe should be considered.
Does it reflect small-town character?
Without being nauseating, it should have a certain charm. An overly suburban name (e.g., Bluff Pointe Parkway) or an overly utilitarian name (e.g., Highway 3) does not reflect small-town character. The current name fails.
Does it reflect our long-term vision for Northfield Highway 3?
Other than the Land Development Code, we don’t seem to have one, so this is iffy. But for a name, let’s pin it on this: if Highway 3 were a perfect corridor, in the vision of Comprehensive Plan’s land use principles, would the name be appropriate? The current name fails.
Does it reflect the centrality of the street to our community?
The name should clearly reflect the importance to Northfield. “Birch Lane”, for example, is not a good name, because it implies a small or unimportant street. The current name fails to an outsider, but is established among locals.
Context: Does it reflect relation to the original Northfield town plan, reflect its current form, reflect natural features nearby, or reflect the historical impulses that created it?
It should logically fit into the older, bigger picture. Again, Bluff Pointe Parkway fails. “Broadway” would probably reflect its current form. Cannon St might reflect a natural feature. The current name fails.
Is it easy to say?
A cumbersome name will never catch on. The simpler, the better. At three syllables and a four-character abbreviation, this is the strongest point for the existing name.
Does it reflect something else unique or positive about Northfield?
Naming a central street is an opportunity to highlight a positive aspect of the city. The current name does not do this.
Let’s think of some names.
The NDDC task force on Highway 3 has suggested John North Blvd, and Ross Currier, of that task force, advocates for the name Dahomey Ave (already shown erroneously on many online maps). My personal favorite is Wellstone Ave. But here’s the chart. Click to view full size.
