Some private-lane residents in Fox Chapel required to change street name in conjunction with 'Squaw' removal

Fox Chapel residents who live along some private lanes in the borough will be getting new street names this spring.

Council’s move to rename Squaw Run and Squaw Run East will affect about 10 properties, in addition to those housed on the Heinz Estate.

“Much of Squaw Run and Squaw Run East are little side streets with clusters of homes, so in addition to removing the slur, we are also giving the side streets their own road names,” Councilperson Mandy Steele said.

It was recommended by Allegheny County Emergency Services to improve clarity for response times, she said.

Residents who are impacted have received notice from the borough and can suggest new street names to council.

Council gets the final approval but members said during the Jan. 18 meeting that they will consider all recommendations.

Council President Andy Bennett said he would like to receive the recommendations by early February to give council time to review them.

Mayor Alex Scott encouraged people to be unique with the names since the borough has an abundance of references to foxes and the like already.

“It’s sort of like Trillium,” he said. “We have so many.”

Councilperson Harrison Lauer said the process for narrowing selections will be based on the order in which the names are submitted.

Each property owner can submit three ideas with their most-liked name at the top of the list. Duplicates will be tossed out.

Residents can seek help changing their address through the Cooper-Siegel Community Library. A package will also be mailed to walk residents through each step.

The package aims to alleviate uncertainty, Steele said, and details the borough’s responsibilities as well as those of the resident.

Council agreed to compensate those impacted by the name change with a $250 stipend.

At the same time residents are proposing new street names, council will consider new names for Squaw Run and Squaw Run East. Steele said suggestions from the community will be weighed among those from Native American organizations.

Name changes are expected to be complete and in use by spring.