SAN ANTONIO – On Wednesday, the city's planning commission approved a motion to change Enrique M. Barrera Parkway back to U.S. Old Highway 90.
Many West Side business owners, who presented to the commission, said they have been working tirelessly to get their beloved old U.S. Highway 90 back.
"I'm still in shock," said Eiginio Rodriguez, who had been fighting to save Old Highway 90. "I hope I don't wake up from this, because just to get to this point was so difficult. We had so many roadblocks to go through. I would not desire something like this to anyone anywhere.”
It's been almost a year since the City Council voted to change the name of U.S Old Highway 90 to Enrique M. Barrera Parkway.
Michael Cooremans, who is the owner of 4M Auto Supply, which is located on the highway, said the move was not only a blow to his business, but to the entire community.
"They took away the heart line of all these mom-and-pop businesses that have been here for generations," Cooremans said.
From losing a piece of their West Side history, to confusion with GPS tracking because of the name change, Cooremans said it was the wrong move.
Cooremans, along with the other community business owners, raised $32,000 to submit an application to the city that would change the name back to Old Highway 90. They also collected more than 1,000 signatures for their petition, which was presented to the city's planning commission Wednesday.
The city's planning commission will now make a recommendation to the San Antonio City Council.
The issue is scheduled to be presented to the council on Sept. 15.
