Which District 12 streets have Confederate ties? Atlanta proposal seeks a review

An Atlanta proposal to review District 12 street names for Confederate ties would document the historical evidence—and how many homes and businesses a name change could affect. Its next listed committee review is Oct. 14, but that step is conditional.⁠[1]

The packet lists Transportation Committee consideration at 10 a.m., contingent on a recommendation from the Community Development/Human Services Committee, which was scheduled to consider the measure Oct. 13. The records reviewed do not establish that meeting’s outcome or adoption of the proposal. City Council’s recorded Oct. 5 action was a referral without objection, not approval.⁠[1][2]

Resolution 26-R-4190, sponsored by Councilmembers Antonio Lewis, Michael Julian Bond, Matt Westmoreland and Eshé Collins, would ask the Atlanta Department of Transportation to review public streets and other public rights-of-way throughout the district. Its criteria extend beyond Confederate officials and military leaders to commemorative organizations, events, battles and symbols, as well as people whose primary public significance is associated with the Confederate cause.⁠[1][2]

The proposal treats renaming as both a historical question and an administrative one. For each street identified, the requested inventory would document the name’s origin and the basis for its Confederate association, count potentially affected residential and commercial properties, and estimate the cost of changing signs and city records.⁠[1]

It does not identify a list of District 12 streets proposed for renaming or provide cost estimates; those are findings the review would seek. It explicitly says adoption would not automatically rename any street. Permanent changes would still require the city’s applicable legislative and administrative process.⁠[1]

After the inventory, the proposal calls for community engagement that would include, to the extent practicable, affected residents and property owners, businesses, neighborhood organizations, historians and other institutions. The District 12 office would solicit replacement names recognizing local history and cultural contributions. Proposed names would remain subject to existing requirements concerning community support, Urban Design Commission review and public notice.⁠[1]

The practical work would reach beyond street signs. Transportation officials would be asked to coordinate with city departments, Fulton County, the Postal Service and emergency-response agencies to identify records and systems needing updates after an approved name change.⁠[1]

The resolution requests a report on the findings, community engagement, proposed names, costs and recommended next steps within 180 days of adoption. That timetable would begin only if the resolution is adopted—not with a scheduled committee review.⁠[1]