Officials favor renaming Idaho Street for King

A church asked why Farrell and Sharon have no streets honoring King.
FARRELL, Pa. -- Idaho Street could soon have a new name.
City officials are interested in naming it after Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
"That's where I'd like to see it," said Councilman Lou Falconi in response to a letter from Bethlehem Baptist Church in Sharon asking that a street be named in King's honor.
Deacon Donald Wright of the church wrote to both Farrell and Sharon officials in June, asking why neither municipality has a street named for King, and the Rev. Leon Avery, church pastor, appeared at a Farrell City Council meeting Monday to ask if there had been any developments on the suggestion.
Wright's letter had proposed that renaming Broadway Avenue after King might be appropriate.
Idaho Street, once a busy center of commerce for Farrell, has fallen on hard times over the past couple of decades. It still has some businesses and homes, but there are also a lot of empty storefronts and vacant land.
Like the idea
Mayor William Morocco said the issue will likely be discussed in some detail at council's Oct. 6 workshop, but Falconi said that, with the proposed rebirth of Idaho Street on the horizon, it would be appropriate to rename it for King.
"It would put a new face on the area. I think it's a very good idea," he said, pointing out there is new life at a small plaza at Idaho and Spearman Avenue where a new district justice office has been located. The city also is planning a redevelopment of some commercial land near that location as well as other changes for the area.
Councilwoman Rev. Jeannette Hooks agreed with Falconi, noting there is a lot of excitement in Farrell about the prospects for Idaho Street.
Councilman Rudy Hammond echoed Falconi's opinion as well.
"It'd be a great thing for Farrell," he said.
Avery liked it too. There seems to be a lot of excitement about the prospect of Idaho Street's being renamed in honor of King, he said.