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Clearwater to hit road in Largo?

The Largo mayor wants to drop Clearwater's name from Clearwater-Largo Road.

By LORRI HELFAND
Published June 30, 2005

LARGO - Clearwater-Largo Road?

Some Largo officials think Largo Road has a nicer ring to it.

Since the north-south road flows through his city, Largo Mayor Bob Jackson thinks Clearwater-Largo Road would make a lot more sense without the "Clearwater" part.

"It's cumbersome and doesn't have any significance," he said.

Clearwater Mayor Frank Hibbard begs to differ. The "Clearwater" in Clearwater-Largo Road represents connections between the two cities, he said.

"Am I offended that they're taking "Clearwater' off? I guess not," Hibbard said. "It seems kind of petty. The thing I think is important is that we have connections between our communities, and I think that's what that has been. If they don't care to have that, that's their prerogative."

Jackson said the change makes sense because Clearwater-Largo Road won't be a key route from Largo to Clearwater after the state switches the Alt. U.S. 19 designation to Missouri Avenue in Clearwater next year.

"It's a long name that doesn't mean anything," Jackson said. "It makes sense to call it Largo Road. It shouldn't create a lot of confusion."

The idea came up last October at a Largo work session.

Jackson reminded the city staff to research it again in January.

Largo development employees planned to survey businesses to see if they like the idea.

Ron Bortolini, a longtime Clearwater-Largo Road business owner, is not a fan of the name change. He said he thinks it would be confusing for customers and inconvenient for merchants who would have to revamp business cards.

Compounding the problem, he said, is the fact that his business - like lots of businesses along the road - has a Clearwater address.

"How confusing can it be that I'm on Largo Road in Clearwater," Bortolini said. "Leave it to Largo to add confusion to what our identity truly is."

The timing will be right for a name change if most merchants approved the idea, said Commissioner Harriet Crozier. The city is working on grand plans to revitalize the Clearwater-Largo Road corridor.

"It's going to have a new look and a new image," she said. "Maybe now is a good time."

--Lorri Helfand can be reached at 445-4155 or at lorri@sptimes.com

[Last modified June 30, 2005, 15:33:44]