Title
Larkin Street Commemoration - For the purpose of commemorating Larkin Street; allocating funds for a commemorative sign; and generally related to commemorating Larkin Street.
Body
CITY COUNCIL OF THE
City of Annapolis
Resolution 28-19
Introduced by: Alderwoman Tierney, Mayor Buckley, Alderman Savidge,
Alderman Rodriguez, Alderwoman Pindell Charles
A RESOLUTION concerning
Larkin Street Commemoration
FOR the purpose of commemorating Larkin Street; allocating funds for a commemorative sign; and generally related to commemorating Larkin Street.
WHEREAS, in Annapolis during the 1950s, due to an increase in federally funded grants, public housing construction and development propagated and there was a sense of hope and increased financial opportunity that ushered in an awakening within the African-American community; and
WHEREAS, the African-American community flourished through a network of fraternities, sororities, the Legionnaires, the Elks, the Masons, and other social and professional organizations, many of which were located in the “Old Fourth Ward”, also known as the “Annapolis Harlem” at the time; and
WHEREAS, by the 1960s, the African-American population in Annapolis had grown exponentially, but because they were socioeconomically underserved, local representatives had to advocate for improved education and increased housing for their citizens; and
WHEREAS, through years of federally funded urban redevelopment, African-American residents were displaced from their community in the Old Fourth Ward and moved to public housing on the outskirts of the City limits, where there was no public transportation to get to jobs downtown; and
WHEREAS, of particular note, African-American families were displaced from their homes on Larkin Street to make way for redevelopment on what is now known as City Gate Lane for the purpose of eliminating substandard housing at Gott's Court, Washington and Clay Streets, and to erect a parking garage for the Anne Arundel County Government; and
WHEREAS, we cannot bring back the Annapolis Harlem of the Old Fourth Ward, but we can remember and recognize the past cultural richness of the African-American Community that once resided on Larkin Street in the Old Fourth Ward; and
WHEREAS, the City Council desires to commemorate a piece of history by placing a sign directly below the City Gate Lane sign stating: “previously ‘Larkin Street’ of the Old Fourth Ward” as a symbolic gesture that the cultural richness of the Annapolis Harlem shall never be forgotten.
NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE ANNAPOLIS CITY COUNCIL desires the installation of a sign directly below the City Gate Lane sign stating “previously ‘Larkin Street’ of the Old Fourth Ward”.
AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED BY THE ANNAPOLIS CITY COUNCIL that this resolution shall take effect from the date of its passage.
EXPLANATION
Underlining indicates matter added.
[Strikethrough] indicates matter stricken.