I’ve always thought it odd that Lynwood Center’s old Tudor-style building was also named Lynwood Center. To me, It’s kind of like calling the little island in the Battle Point Park pond “Bainbridge Island.”
It makes it a little complicated for us reporters when we’re doing a story about Lynwood Center (the neighborhood) and want to also mention Lynwood Center (the building). To avoid confusion in a story a while back, I referred to the building as the “Lynwood Theater building,” but that angered a reader or two, so I quit doing it.
The organizers of Lynwood Center’s (the neighborhood) annual street party (see the logo above) simply refer to it as “Lynwood” and call the building “Lynwood Center.” That sounds like a good idea to me, and maybe henceforth we should simply call the neighborhood “Lynwood.” But won’t people then be confused with the Lynnwood (note the double ‘n’ difference) north of Seattle? Perhaps we could convince Lynnwood to change its name, possibly to something more fitting, like “Sprawlsville” or “Suburbswood.”
Steve Romein, who owns Lynwood Center (the building), calls the neighborhood “Lynwood Center” and the buidling “The Historic Lynwood Center.” But I don’t know. Does an added adjective really set it apart? And why “historic”? Aren’t the Edna’s restaurant building and that old lumber store on pilings historic too? They’re also in Lynwood Center (the neighborhood). And besides, there are lots of other complimentary adjectives you could add that are more pizzazzy than “historic.” Why not call it the “Awesome Lynwood Center” or the “Fantastical Lynwood Center” or the “Courageous Lynwood Center.” In an effort to capture the all-important youth market, why not call it the “Sick Lynwood Center” (a young whippersnapper recently let me know that “sick” means “good” these days).
Another reporter recently asked for some guidance on what to call the same-named building and neighborhood. I think I sighed and shrugged. I wasn’t much help. Confronted with the same problem this week, I posed the question to Romein.
He shrugged too (at least I imagine he did while writing his e-mailed response).
“As far as an official name, we have never discussed it. Should we?” he wrote.
Yes, Mr. Romein, we should discuss it. And who better to discuss it than the clever and wise readers of this blog? Head over to the right of the screen for a poll in which to cast your vote for the Lynwood Center neighborhood’s new official name. No doubt the poll’s winningest name will dominate discussions at the next City Council meeting, and that our unofficial mayor will issue a decree on the neighborhood’s official new name. If your favorite selection for Lynwood Center isn’t listed, you can always drop it into the comments section. Happy naming.
By the way, the second-annual Taste of Lynwood is this Saturday. Click here for more info.
