Section of FM 1960's name to change

HOUSTON A road by any other name is apparently not the same to business owners along FM 1960. The newly designated name, "Cypress Creek Parkway," isn't getting rave reviews from everyone because most people don't know about it.

Dr. Frieda Hale has been a dentist in the area for decades and wonders how much the renaming will cost her.

"I have to change all my stationary, all my advertising and all my business cards, and people aren't going to know where Cypress Creek Parkway is," Hale said.

The good news for opponents is that the change, which was approved by Harris County Commissioner's Court at the request of Commissioner Jerry Eversole, is actually just a designation. That means the signs will change between FM 249 and Aldine Westfield, but the name FM 1960 will still get mail delivered to the right place.

Most there say they still feel caught off guard.

"I just wish they had involved some of us that have been here roadside for many years for some input on the name change," Dr. L. Bert Williams, a chiropractor, said.

U.S. Rep. Ted Poe says as far as he's concerned, the change wasn't necessary.

"I personally like FM 1960 because it goes back to our roots," Poe said.

For two years, the Northwest Houston Chamber of Commerce held meetings about the name change, and placed four ads, ironically, in the "1960 Sun" newspaper. They say just 75 people responded to a public poll about the renaming, and ultimately, 16 people signed a petition to make the change.

"In my opinion, this upgrades the area by renaming it," said Belinda Menasco, chairwoman of the Northwest Houston Chamber of Commerce. "It just gives it a different atmosphere; we are no longer a farm to market road."

It wasn't immediately clear how much it will cost to replace the signs on that stretch of the road.

You can read more about the name change and see the response from the county in The Sun, one of our Houston Community Newspaper partners.