Daytona Beach Shores city commissioners have set the stage for a change to their city’s name.
It could become The Shores.
City commissioners voted unanimously on July 7 in favor of placing the question on the Nov. 3 ballot. A second reading is set for July 28.
Over the city’s 66-year history, residents have colloquially begun to refer more and more to the city’s name as “The Shores.” Mayor Nancy Miller and Vice Mayor Michael Politis said their vote July 7 was simply to let residents have a say.
“These are the residents of Daytona Beach Shores or The Shores. This is their decision,” Miller said. “We want to be able to say to them we’re going to put it on there so that they have the decision.”
Does The Shores elevate city’s stature?
Krista Goodrich, a Volusia County School Board member who owns the Pineapple Shores Retro Inn and several rental homes in Daytona Beach Shores, spoke in support.
“I think this will enhance The Shores, because The Shores is different. It is its own city, and it does live in the shadow right now of Daytona Beach,” Goodrich said. “So I think by creating the name The Shores, it actually elevates it.”
Visitors to The Shores can still experience the events in the more famous city to the north, she said.
“But they can have an elevated tourism experience here in The Shores, where we’re a little more forward-thinking and friendly,” Goodrich said.
Commissioner Mark Card said he approached people in an “unscientific” manner and found most want the name changed. But then he mentioned it could cost the city more than $250,000 changing signs and items such as logos on city vehicles.
“It changed the landscape immediately, overwhelming on those people when they found out it was going to cost that. … So I’m kind of torn with this decision,” Card said. “I’ll figure it out when it’s time to vote.”
Why is Daytona Beach Shores considering a name change?
A city memo lays out the rationale.
“Over the years, the city has received increasing inquiries and comments from residents and local business owners regarding the possibility of renaming the city to better reflect the identity by which it is commonly known — The Shores.”
The city surveyed residents using social-media posts, utility bill inserts, condominium flyers, at events hosted by Miller, and other means, and says it received 545 responses, 95% of which were verified residents.
The survey said … 65.7% support the name change, with 34.3% opposing.
Daytona Beach Shores officials estimate “preliminary implementation costs” are estimated between $244,000 and $277,000. That would include items such as public works operations, uniforms, decorative pole banners, monument and wayfinding signage.
History of Florida city name changes
A name change in Florida is not unprecedented.
Volusia County was once part of Mosquito County. And Lake City was at one point named Alligator.
Much of what is now Daytona Beach was originally incorporated in 1876 as Daytona. Smaller parts of the city incorporated in the early 1900s as Seabreeze and Daytona Beach. Finally, 100 years ago, the three communities combined and settled on Daytona Beach.
And as recently as 2019, the town of Lake Worth reincorporated as the city of Lake Worth Beach.
Daytona Beach Shores was incorporated in 1960.
This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Dropping Daytona Beach? City moves toward name change
Reporting by Mark Harper, Daytona Beach News-Journal / The Daytona Beach News-Journal
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Mark Harper, Daytona Beach News-Journal | USA TODAY Network
