By Amy Zimmer
DNAinfo News Editor
MANHATTAN — Forget about naming renaming the Queensboro Bridge for former Mayor Ed Koch. Why not give the honor to Gracie Mansion, suggested a Queens City Councilman.
Peter Vallone, who represents Astoria, showed some Queens pride on Tuesday, by denouncing Mayor Michael Bloomberg's proposal to rechristen the 59th Street Bridge, as it's also known, as the "Ed Koch Queensboro Bridge."
"Mayor Ed Koch is truly a great man and deserving of an honor like this, but renaming a landmark so closely linked to our borough's culture and history is not appropriate," Vallone said in a statement. "The city would not rename the Brooklyn Bridge and the Queensboro Bridge should be treated equally."
Vallone instead suggested calling the mayor's official residence "Gracie-Koch."
How do Yorkville loyalists feel about that?
It didn't fly with local blogger, Yorkvillian, who wrote, "As a resident of Yorkville, I object to renaming one of our neighborhood's few landmarks."
The wooden Federal-style home on East End Avenue at 88th Street overlooking the East River was built in 1799 by shipping magnate Archibald Gracie, who sold it 20 years later to pay off debts, and later became the mayor's home under Fiorello La Guardia, the blog pointed out.
"I like the fact that it has had the same name for over 200 years," Yorkvillian wrote. "If you think a bridge is too much, go with a park, or something. And leave Yorkville's only icon alone."
