“Goodbye ‘Dave Thomas Circle’ – Hello ‘Mamie Peanut Johnson Plaza'”

the intersection of New York Avenue, NE, Florida Avenue, NE, and First Street, NE

From a press release:

“The NoMa Business Improvement District (BID) announces that “Mamie ‘Peanut’ Johnson Plaza” was selected by the community as the winning name for the trio of new public spaces being brought to NoMa by the reconstruction of the Florida Avenue/New York Avenue NE intersection.

Out of more than 4,300 votes cast, 40% of respondents selected this name to honor the legacy of Mamie “Peanut” Johnson, the first woman to ever pitch in the Negro League and a longtime resident of Washington, DC.

The transformation of the intersection is being led by the District Department of Transportation (DDOT). “We appreciate the community’s continued engagement and input in both the renaming and redesign of this intersection,” says Interim DDOT Director Sharon Kershbaum. “The transformation of this roadway continues on track, and when completed in December 2024, the result will be a much improved and safer experience for everyone who lives near and passes through this space.”

“Thank you to the many thousands of people who took the time to vote and select Mamie ‘Peanut’ Johnson Plaza as the name for the trio of new public spaces coming to NoMa,” said Maura Brophy, President of the NoMa BID. “These three new green spaces will be a welcome addition to the neighborhood, and the mobility and safety improvements resulting from this overall roadway reconfiguration project will benefit everyone who lives, works, visits, and passes through this area of northeast DC.”

With the community vote determined, the next step in the process is the introduction of formal legislation before the DC Council to officially recognize the name for the new trio of public spaces.

The new public spaces are being designed by the award-winning landscape architecture firm, SWA Balsley. To view renderings of the future public spaces and read background on the community naming process, visit NameThisNoMaSpace.org. For more details about the reconfiguration of the Florida Avenue/NY Avenue NE Intersection, visit floridaavene-intersection.ddot.dc.gov/.”