Special to the Record
The city council voted to approve City Manager Fidel Maltez’s request to rename Arlington Street Extension back to its original name of Walnut Street on Monday night. The renaming celebrates the historically thriving black neighborhood in the Walnut Street area before it was transformed by the Great Fire of 1973 and urban renewal. The City Manager’s Office will work with the members of Chelsea Black Community, the city council, and various city departments to fulfill this request. Once complete, to commemorate the name change, the city will install a historical plaque in the area and host a Walnut Street Unveiling Ceremony at a date to be announced, according to Maltez.
“The City of Chelsea is proud to celebrate the cultural and historical significance of our Walnut Street area by restoring its original name,” said Maltez. “Our partner in these efforts, the Chelsea Black Community, has advocated for this renaming for quite some time, and my office is honored to support all groups, past and present, impacted by the area’s fire of 1973 and urban renewal. We are excited to celebrate this success and thank the City Council for their support.” Stacey Smith, a fifth-generation Chelsea resident and member of the Chelsea Black Community, helped organize and lead the efforts to change the name of the street back to Walnut Street.
“Reclaiming Walnut Street and recognizing the impact that the fires and urban renewal had on Chelsea’s Black and other ethnic communities is vital to ensuring the stories of those who lived there are not forgotten,” Smith said. “This name change also allows our community to reconnect with its roots, honor the memories of past generations, and create a foundation for future generations to understand their history and heritage better. The Chelsea Black Community is grateful to our local leadership for its dedicated support of this project and for providing a sense of hope for successful outcomes, and proud that our long-standing presence in the Chelsea community continues to positively impact our city.” City Council President Norieliz De Jesus said the council was pleased to support the renaming of the Arlington Street Extension back to Walnut Street.
“Up until 1973, the Walnut Street area was the center of Chelsea’s black and other ethnic communities before its devastating transformation,” De Jesus said. “The Council looks forward to continuing to make informed decisions and positively contribute to the well-being of our community members.”