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An ordinance to amend the Geographic Information Systems Street and Alley Centerline Layer for the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County, by changing the name of 10th Circle N from Rosa L Parks Blvd to Dr Martin L King Jr Blvd to “Rev Kelly M Smith Circle” (Proposal No. 2020M-005SR-001).
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WHEREAS, Rev. Kelly Miller Smith (1920-1984) was a clergyman and civil rights activist in Nashville; and
WHEREAS, Rev. Smith earned a Bachelor of Divinity degree from Morehouse College and a Master of Divinity degree from Howard University; and
WHEREAS, Rev. Smith moved to Nashville, Tennessee in 1951 to serve as pastor of First Baptist Church, Capitol Hill, a position he would retain until his death in 1984; and
WHEREAS, Rev. Smith and twelve other African American parents filed a federal lawsuit in 1955 challenging segregation in Nashville’s public schools; and
WHEREAS, Rev. Smith became president of the Nashville chapter of the NAACP in 1956, founded the Nashville Christian Leadership Council (NCLC) in 1958, and played an important role in the Nashville sit-in movement in the early 1960s; and
WHEREAS, Rev. Smith served as Assistant Dean of Vanderbilt University's Divinity School from 1969 until his death; and
WHEREAS, the request for changing the name of 10th Circle N. has been submitted by Councilmember Sharon Hurt, applicant; and,
WHEREAS, the proposed request to change the name of 10th Circle N. has been submitted to the Metropolitan Planning Commission, and other relevant agencies of the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County, in accordance with Metropolitan Code § 13.08.015; and,
WHEREAS, the community deems it appropriate that said street name be changed.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ENACTED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE METROPOLITAN GOVERNMENT OF NASHVILLE AND DAVIDSON COUNTY:
Section 1. That the Geographic Information Systems Street and Alley Centerline Layer for the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County, as enacted by Ordinance No. BL2019-96, be and is hereby amended, by renaming 10th Circle N from Rosa L Parks Blvd to Dr Martin L King Jr Blvd as “Rev Kelly M Smith Way” all of which is more particularly described by lines, words and figures on the sketch, which is attached hereto as Exhibit A and made a part of this ordinance as though copied herein.
Section 2. The Director of the Department of Public Works is hereby authorized and directed, upon the enactment and approval of this ordinance, to cause said change to be made on said Map as set out in Section 1 of this ordinance, and to make notation thereon of reference to the date of passage and approval of this amendatory ordinance.
Section 3. Future amendments to this legislation may be approved by resolution.
Section 4. This ordinance shall take effect immediately after its passage, the welfare of The Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County requiring it.
agenda analysis
This ordinance, as amended, amends the Geographic Information Systems Street and Alley Centerline Layer for the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County, by renaming a portion of 10th Circle N between Rosa L. Parks Blvd and Dr. Martin L King Jr. Blvd to "Rev Kelly M Smith Way." Rev. Kelly Miller Smith was a clergyman and civil rights activist in Nashville. Rev. Smith served as pastor of First Baptist Church, Capitol Hill, from 1951 until his death in 1984. He also served as president of the Nashville chapter of the NAACP, and as Assistant Dean of Vanderbilt University's Divinity School from 1969 until his death.
This ordinance has been approved by the ECD Board and the Planning Commission. The required report from the Historical Commission is available as an attachment to this ordinance.