Proposed name change for Macon street could be revised after public hearing Tuesday

A compromise could be on the way for a proposal to rename a Macon street after a public hearing drew about 70 people.

Macon-Bibb County Commissioner Mallory Jones suggested keeping Courtland Avenue as the name of the street, while also adding the name of longtime pastor Dr. Walter L. Glover Jr. to the top of street signs. Mallory brought the idea up following Tuesday’s public hearing where proponents said renaming Courtland after Glover is a way to honor his efforts in the community, but some neighborhood residents said they were against the change.

The resolution could be revised to implement Jones’ suggestion before going to a Macon-Bibb committee on Sept. 22.

Glover recently celebrated his 40 year anniversary as pastor of the Greater Zion Hill Missionary Baptist Church.

Opponents of the resolution brought up questions about the cost of name change and stated their desire to preserve the Cherokee Heights neighborhood where Courtland has been the name of the street since 1909.

Cherokee Heights is on the National Register of Historic Places for being one of the first planned residential communities in Macon, according to the Historic Macon Foundation.

About 40 members of Glover’s church attended Tuesday’s hearing. Several of his members spoke about Glover’s impact in the community, such as feeding and clothing the poor.

Several people on both sides said they would be OK with renaming Courtland from Napier to Montpelier avenues, which is near where Glover’s church is located.

To contact writer Stanley Dunlap, call 744-4623 or find him on Twitter@stan_telegraph

This story was originally published September 15, 2015 at 7:28 PM with the headline "Proposed name change for Macon street could be revised after public hearing Tuesday ."