A new street under construction in Vesturbær, the westernmost neighbourhood of Reykjavík, will be named after writer Elísabet Jökulsdóttir, mbl.is reports. The idea came from Elísabet herself, who lived in the area for 30 years and collected signatures in support of the initiative. Einar Þorsteinsson, chairman of Reykjavík City Council, confirmed the decision to Elísabet yesterday.
“I’m in seventh heaven and I’m just so grateful,” the writer told reporters just after returning from City Hall yesterday, where she had handed over a list of 1,100 signatures to Einar in support of the initiative. She compared Einar’s response to magic. “It was like he did a magic trick. He just snapped his fingers and said that it would be done, just one, two, three.”
Enough streets named after dead men
The street in question is being built between Sólvallagata and Hringbraut as part of an ongoing construction project involving a new building. It was originally to be named Hoffmann’s Street after Pétur Hoffmann Salómonsson, a fisherman and writer. But when Elísabet heard about the naming plans for the street, which is located by her former home of many years, she did not approve. She stated that there were enough streets named after dead men.
“I’m very grateful and touched and this is a great moment that the street can be named after a woman. It gives us women wind beneath our wings. And who knows what the city will look like in a few years. Maybe Hringbraut will be named after [female author] Þórunn Valdimarsdóttir and more in that vein. I’m paving the way,” Elísabet said happily.
Read Iceland Review’s recent interview with Elísabet Jökulsdóttir.
