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This memorial tribute street sign that is named after deceased Newark resident Chien Garcia Alonso is on top of a Stop sign where Highland Avenue had been at the Elwood Avenue intersection. Residents in Forest Hills Historic District said the sign, which is causing motorists to get confused, is among other tribute signs and memorials that have been erected without adherence to city guidelines or input from residents.

(Barry Carter | The Star-Ledger)

Residents of the Forest Hill Historic District in Newark work hard to maintain the character of their neighborhood, which has been described as an architectural and residential jewel.

It's listed on the national Register of Historic Places and is the second largest historic district in New Jersey, with 1,200 homes, and Branch Brook Park as its neighbor.

But during the past few years, residents in this North Ward community have become rankled over a couple of memorial street signs that have been placed on the same pole as existing street signs, without adherence to city guidelines or input from them.

"It's driving us crazy,'' said Liz Del Tufo, a Forest Hill resident who is also president of the Newark Preservation & Landmarks Committee.''

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Truthfully, it's not a crisis -- but residents don't want to see things get out of hand in the city's historic districts. Yet, it was enough of a concern for North Ward Councilman Anibal Ramos to do something about it when the Forest Hills residents complained about the signs and had questions about a memorial stone. That's how serious they are about maintaining the quality of life of their neighborhood.

"I'm encouraged that I have property owners who want to restore and protect the integrity of the neighborhood,'' Ramos said.

The tribute signs, which look like regular street signs, honor residents citywide who have made some sort of significant contribution to Newark or society at large.

But residents say the new signage over one of the regular street signs confuses motorists and delivery drivers and it is their belief that the name change should have been reviewed by the Newark Landmarks & Historic Preservation Commission.

Ramos believes the city council has addressed their concerns with the recent passing of two ordinances. The first requires council members to bring street dedication requests to the Landmarks Commission. The second ordinance expands the commission's powers beyond making decisions on property, such as homeowners who need permission to change a roof or window in a historic neighborhood. Now, the commission can say yes or no to a street dedication sign and possibly have a say-so regarding tributes such as the memorial stone.

The route to having a street sign dedicated generally starts with a request from residents, community groups or possibly someone from the business sector that is made to a council member. If the recommended individual meets the requirements for a memorial street sign, council members approve it after some discussion. In the past, street dedications were reserved for Newark residents and done posthumously. Now, they can be granted for those who are living, but that person has to be at least 80 years old and have done something significant.

Forest Hill residents became upset with at-large Councilman Luis Quintana, who they contend didn't make them aware of plans for the street signs and a memorial stone to be placed in their community.

Quintana said he apologizes to the residents for not informing them about the sign requests and he did not mean to disrespect them.

"Whatever the wishes of that neighborhood are, I will yield to it,'' Quintana said. "I know they want to keep it a tradition there of being historic, and I want to honor and respect their wishes."

Memorial street signs have been placed at the intersection of Elwood and Highland avenues, in honor of Chein Garcia Alonso, a musician who wrote songs for singer Enrique Iglesias; and at Berkeley and Highland avenues, in honor of Elena Perez, a champion for comprehensive health care who started a HIV lab program at St. Michael's Medical Center in Newark and developed the National Aids Education & Training Center at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey. Both had lived in Newark.

The memorial stone is on a grassy island at Lake Street and Heller Parkway. It holds a plaque in memory of Jimmy Gonzalez, a 23-year-old city resident who was killed last year in a motor vehicle accident. The council didn't vote on the stone, but residents said Quintana was aware that it had been placed there by the young man's family.

Residents say Ramos' ordinance helps with future requests, but they want the Highland Avenue street sign to be returned. Right now, one side of the street is "Alonso Way" and the sign is atop the stop sign, where the Highland Street sign had been.

"It appears that the name of the street has changed,'' said Joe Oliverie, who lives on Highland Avenue."It's frustrating.''

When friends come to visit, Oliverie said they believe they are in the wrong place because they see the "Alonso Way" sign, not the Highland Avenue street sign. It is the same with delivery drivers, he said.

The Perez Plaza sign initially was going to be placed at the Ballantine Gates, which are at the entrance to Branch Brook Park, at Ballantine Parkway and Lake Street. Residents objected, because the gates, named after a prominent Newark family, are historic.

The sign honoring Perez is now at Highland and Berkeley avenues.

Residents, however, couldn't do anything about the memorial stone at Heller Parkway and Lake Street. The commission didn't have any say-so over it.

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"It suddenly appeared,'' said Catherine Longendyck, a Highland Avenue resident."I think most people wouldn't consider this to be a big deal, but people fought so hard to get this designated as historic district.''

Del Tufo, who believes the stone interferes with the integrity of the district, said residents have suggested another way in which the young man's life can be honored in the historic neighborhood.

Instead of the stone, Del Tufo said a decorative bench could be purchased and placed in Branch Brook Park, with Gonzalez's name on it. Several of them are already in the park.

"There is a group of us that is willing to chip in and pay for it,'' Del Tufo said.

Quintana doesn't think it's a good idea to remove the stone since it's already there.

"It means too much that family,'' he said.

With the new ordinance on the books, at least street dedication signs in historic districts will receive another level of scrutiny before they are approved.

Barry Carter: (973) 836-4925 or bcarter@starledger.com or nj.com/carter or follow him on Twitter @BarryCarterSL