An honorary street sign will be unveiled this weekend to salute the late Clarence L. Townes Jr., a Richmond businessman who played major roles in city government and political affairs for decades.

The public ceremony is scheduled for 2 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 3, at the intersection of Ladies Mile Road and the 3100 block of Hawthorne Avenue in North Side, where Mr. Townes lived, according City Council Vice President Chris A. Hilbert, who represents the area.

Mr. Townes, who died in January 2017, played a key role in a creating and leading Richmond Renaissance, a city-business partnership that pushed the redevelopment of Downtown. He also chaired the Richmond School Board for four years.

Mr. Townes also owned a bus company and led development of the first new apartment complex in Church Hill.

Outside Richmond, he used Republican connections to help found the first African-American think tank in Washington.

Mr. Townes also was a member of the board of Paradigm Communications Inc., the parent company of the Richmond Free Press, from the newspaper’s start in 1992 until his death.

Details: Mr. Hilbert, (804) 655-6055 or Chris.Hilbert@Richmondgov.com