A Rose By Any Other Name...

In addition to bringing in a new year, January 1, will also bring a new name to South Grapevine Highway. On that date, the City of North Richland Hills will change the name to Boulevard 26. According to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, the renamed street will also get a new logo and diamond-shaped signs. The change is part of an effort to give Boulevard 26 a brand name similar to Sundance Square in Fort Worth or the West End in Dallas. This is supposed to make the area hip and cool and attract young professionals as well as new shops, condominiums and town houses. The idea that a bunch of middle-aged politicians on the city council know what young people consider cool is pretty laughable. But are young people really that shallow? I can just imagine a couple of 20-somethings talking, "hey forget the West End or Sundance Square, let's go hang out in North Richland Hills on that street with the neat street signs."