A name other than ‘Route One’?
A name other than ‘Route One’?
Some officials think a name change would help road’s identity
By Lucas Knowles
Editor
The main traffic artery through Scarborough contributes a great deal to the town’s identity. Route One cuts through the heart of Scarborough and is well traveled and well known. But would that identity change if Route One had a different name in town?
When Town Manager Ron Owens first was hired in 2001, he had a goal of renaming Route One in Scarborough. He had never worked or been in a community where Route One did not have some kind of name, beside Route One, that was attached to it. Owens still believes that renaming Route One would be a good idea because it would help to change its identity.
“(Renaming Route One) is something that I think is an important idea,” Owens said. “It would give Route One a connection to the town instead of being U.S. Route One, a through highway.”
When asked whether he thinks renaming Route One would happen in Scarborough, Owens said he “was not sure that goal would ever be achieved.” He said when he brings up the topic, “it seems like people get interested,” but then factors such as changing addresses figure into the argument and that discussion does not to seem to go any further.
Harvey Rosenfeld, president of the Scarborough Economic Development Corporation, said he believes renaming Route One would help further business development in Scarborough.
“The connotation connected to the name Route One, depending on where you’re from, is usually not good,” Rosenfeld said. “Getting an identity other than Route One would be good.”
Both Owens and Rosenfeld said renaming Route One might promote the village-type setting that has been discussed for Scarborough. The town’s different neighborhoods, such as Oak Hill, Dunstan and Pleasant Hill, would be thought of as villages spread out along the main road.
Rosenfeld envisions the Payne Road area in Scarborough being more of a “destination business” area and the Route One corridor as being a home for local business centers. He said renaming Route One might help to achieve that goal.
In South Portland and Saco, Route One is known as Main Street. In Portland, Route One is a combination of several different streets and roads that wind through the city. In Saco, Route One is known as Main Street and in Biddeford, it is known as Elm Street.
If Route One were to have a different name in Scarborough, the new name would have to be approved by the Town Council.
Some officials think a name change would help road’s identity
By Lucas Knowles
Editor
The main traffic artery through Scarborough contributes a great deal to the town’s identity. Route One cuts through the heart of Scarborough and is well traveled and well known. But would that identity change if Route One had a different name in town?
When Town Manager Ron Owens first was hired in 2001, he had a goal of renaming Route One in Scarborough. He had never worked or been in a community where Route One did not have some kind of name, beside Route One, that was attached to it. Owens still believes that renaming Route One would be a good idea because it would help to change its identity.
“(Renaming Route One) is something that I think is an important idea,” Owens said. “It would give Route One a connection to the town instead of being U.S. Route One, a through highway.”
When asked whether he thinks renaming Route One would happen in Scarborough, Owens said he “was not sure that goal would ever be achieved.” He said when he brings up the topic, “it seems like people get interested,” but then factors such as changing addresses figure into the argument and that discussion does not to seem to go any further.
Harvey Rosenfeld, president of the Scarborough Economic Development Corporation, said he believes renaming Route One would help further business development in Scarborough.
“The connotation connected to the name Route One, depending on where you’re from, is usually not good,” Rosenfeld said. “Getting an identity other than Route One would be good.”
Both Owens and Rosenfeld said renaming Route One might promote the village-type setting that has been discussed for Scarborough. The town’s different neighborhoods, such as Oak Hill, Dunstan and Pleasant Hill, would be thought of as villages spread out along the main road.
Rosenfeld envisions the Payne Road area in Scarborough being more of a “destination business” area and the Route One corridor as being a home for local business centers. He said renaming Route One might help to achieve that goal.
In South Portland and Saco, Route One is known as Main Street. In Portland, Route One is a combination of several different streets and roads that wind through the city. In Saco, Route One is known as Main Street and in Biddeford, it is known as Elm Street.
If Route One were to have a different name in Scarborough, the new name would have to be approved by the Town Council.
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