City gets $22,000 check to fund North Ave name change

Grand Junction city leaders on Wednesday got a check to help cover the cost of the North Avenue name change.

The Grand Junction Chamber of Commerce handed over a check for $22,000 from anonymous donors to pay for sign changes along the street. It's all to help alleviate tax payer dollars that would have had to fund new street signs.

Earlier this year, city council members agreed to change the name of North Avenue to University Boulevard.

"This move on our part was just to say to those of you who were concerned, your tax dollars weren't going to this. You don't have to worry about that the private sector has stepped up for that,” said Diane Schwenke, the president of Grand Junction Area of Commerce Diane Schwenke.

The road has been called North Avenue since the 1800's.

Wednesday both sides of the name change controversy came out for the check exchange to voice their opinions.

"We are going to have to change every menu, every business card everything to reflect the University Blvd. versus North Avenue,” said Christina of Bravo Pizza’s.

“I personally have been letting my business cards run low just for this hoping this is going to happen, but we need to we are able to take care of that,” said Startek recruiting manager Waid Medina.

The check will cover the cost to replace signs along North Avenue.

"CMU does benefit our community but they can’t take over our community either," said Trisa Mannion of the 'Keep North 4 Ever group. "They have to leave us some of our history."

The Chamber of Commerce said the money was given by anonymous donors, so no tax dollars will be used in the creation of University Boulevard.

“This is just a step in the commitment of the city to this wonderful corridor,” said Grand Junction Mayor Rick Taggart.

The chamber is also offering free graphic design, discounts on printing and redirecting of mail to help businesses transition.

“We want you to know that we understand there are issues for you with this change and we want to help you through it,” said Schwenke.

There is a petition going around to stop the name change and if enough signatures are collected, then a community-wide vote would come into play, costing cost anywhere from $30,000 to $40,000.

“We are in the very final stages of approval of our petitions," said Mannion. We are waiting for a summary from the city clerk from this point we will have petitions out within the next few days."

The postal service has offered to co-deliver mail along North Avenue for at least the first 18 months if the name is changed.

If all goes through, the new street signs go up as early as the spring.