Proposal To Rename 34th Street May Be Revised

The process of renaming a section of 34th Street after late civil rights activist Louis Coleman will continue later this month.The Metro Planning Commission held a public hearing on the proposal, and on September 16th will turn over its findings to the Metro Council. The body has the final say on whether the street will be renamed. Councilwoman Judy Green says she thinks her colleagues will support the new name."I think most understand the need and the wants of the African American community and the need to have something this significant done for Louis Coleman," she says.Because of Planning Commission recommendations, Green says she will likely suggest the street be renamed Louis Coleman Way, rather than Louis Coleman Jr. Boulevard, which she first proposed. A Planning Commission says the name was too long and the term boulevard was not technically-accurate.Some residents oppose the renaming, and Green says she will look into a compromise between now and the 16th. The compromise could lead to part of 34th Street retaining its name, but still being marked with signs commemorating Coleman.