Transportation committee approves renaming Central Avenue to Shirley Clark Franklin Boulevard

The Atlanta City Council Transportation Committee voted unanimously Wednesday to approve an ordinance renaming Central Avenue Southwest — from Decatur Street Southeast to Pryor Street Southwest — to Shirley Clark Franklin Boulevard.

The measure, advanced by committee members and sponsored by Councilmember Jason Dozier and several colleagues, passed the committee 7-0 and will move forward as part of the council’s legislative process.

The change follows a year of public hearings and outreach by the Shirley Franklin Commission. "The 2 top things that came up were, renaming Westside Park for Mayor Franklin and also renaming Central Avenue," said Sue Ross, who identified herself as one of the commission's 16 members. Michael Kennedy, another commission member who spoke at the committee, said "ditto what Sue Ross said," describing broad outreach and community support for the two recommendations.

Councilmember Jason Dozier moved to approve the ordinance and thanked committee members and community participants for their work and input. Councilwoman Marcia Collier Overstreet, a member of the commission who seconded the recommendation, said Franklin’s public-service record and programs for youth made the renaming "monumental for us as a city." Councilmember Antonio Lewis recalled the Next Step program Franklin started and described its reach to Atlanta graduates.

Committee discussion focused on honoring Franklin while also coordinating city work to support a celebratory rollout in partnership with the Department of Transportation and the Office of Cultural Affairs. Dozier said staff may seek to pair the renaming with grant-funded corridor improvements and public art funded through other city or federal grants. Committee members noted they had conducted outreach through Neighborhood Planning Units (NPUs) and other public meetings prior to advancing the item.

Motion and vote: Councilmember Jason Dozier made the motion to advance the ordinance; Councilwoman Marcia Collier Overstreet seconded. The committee approved the ordinance 7-0.

The ordinance listed on the committee agenda as item 2401617 will return to the full council for consideration as the next step in the city’s legislative process. Public testimony given at the meeting also urged the council to consider a second recommendation from the Shirley Franklin Commission, renaming Westside Park; that measure was described by commission members as having high public support but was not the formal committee action on this agenda.