From mean street to ... ?

Marshmallow Place? Who on earth, besides Big Bird’s best friend, would be willing to live at such an address?

Possibly some residents of what’s now called Drew Street. Once in the grip of the notorious Drew Street gang, it is seeing calmer days thanks to a longstanding police crackdown. Reputations, though, have a way of lagging reality, and according to EGPNews, the Glassell Park neighborhood is ready for an image makeover, starting with the name that has become too associated with hard-core gangsterism. Los Angeles city officials are reportedly willing to explore what it would take to accomplish a switchover.

And here are some of the leading candidates for emblazoning on street signs and business stationery: Rainbow Place. Cotton Road. And, yes, Marshmallow Place.

Of course, it sounds ridiculous. Embarrassing to anyone older than 5. Wimpy, soft, puffy, the antithesis of cool, edgy or remotely respect-inducing.

In other words: Brilliant!

A name like Marshmallow would send any lingering gangbangers rushing to live on Tom Sawyer Island. Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood would seem gritty by comparison. In fact, this could be the start of a new renaming project for all of the city’s gang-plagued neighborhoods. We have our candidates lined up: Fluffy Kitty Drive, Pink Pony Lane, MIT-Bound Academic Achievers Park, Cosmetician Barbie Way.

We could learn to embrace the softness within. Or not. We all know about a certain large city named for the purest, most heavenly spirits, feather-winged, haloed and dressed in modest if unfashionable nightgowns. And look how that turned out.