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# Ocean Ave. now Barnard Way
- URL: https://www.smdp.com/ocean-ave-now-barnard-way/
- Published: 2002-03-28T16:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-23T00:11:12.000Z
- Author: Carolyn Sackariason
- Tags: Environment, Pico, #archive-import

*Street name changed to alleviate confusion*

The city council Tuesday voted to re-name a portion of Ocean Avenue, affecting hundreds of residents who will now have to change their addresses.

Nine apartment buildings, one home and a hotel will now reside on Barnard Way, after council members decided Ocean Avenue was too confusing. Staff will meet with the residents to discuss the changes in a public forum.

Ocean Avenue runs from the northern city limits to Pico Boulevard, where it veers towards the Pacific Ocean and continues to Hollister Avenue. Traveling south of Pico Boulevard on Ocean Avenue toward Hollister Avenue the street name suddenly changes to Barnard Way.

Council members agreed that it will be less confusing for residents and visitors if the entire street from Pico Boulevard to the southern city limit had the same name, which will now be Barnard Way.

The city council in 1966 honored former mayor Benjamin Barnard by renaming “The Speedway” and a portion of Ocean Avenue to Barnard Way. Within a couple of months, the council changed its decision and the Ocean Avenue portion was reinstated.

The issue came up nearly a year ago when the council approved the renaming of what is now Ocean Way, Ocean Front Walk and Pacific Terrace, in an attempt to eliminate confusion and duplication with similarly named streets. The council asked staff to investigate renaming Ocean Avenue south of Pico Boulevard and the access road to the Pacific Coast Highway.

The council also will rename the access road to the PCH, which is only known as “former route 187.”

*Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on March 28, 2002.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/032802.pdf?ref=smdp.com)