CORNELIA — Local artist and community historian Audrey Davenport asked city leaders Tuesday night to consider extending Martin Luther King Jr. Drive to Main Street, a move she said would restore historical continuity to the former Soque Street corridor and strengthen cultural and tourism connections downtown.
Davenport, who leads the Brushstrokes for Change public art and history project, spoke during a public forum and requested that the block of Chattahoochee Street between Clarkesville Street and Main Street be renamed Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, extending the existing MLK corridor directly to Main Street.
“My request tonight is that we extend Martin Luther King Jr. Drive down to Main Street, so that block between Clarkesville Street and Main Street would become Martin Luther King Jr. Drive,” Davenport said.
Davenport said the area was once known as Soque Street and served as the heart of Cornelia’s Black community before street-name changes in the 1980s.
She said extending MLK Jr. Drive would help restore that history while guiding visitors toward Jim Smith Park and the Brushstrokes for Change mural installations, which document the stories of families and businesses tied to the historic neighborhood.
She told commissioners she had already contacted Major Fortson, the only property owner directly affected by the proposed change, and said he supports the renaming.
Traffic calming, historic markers suggested
As part of her presentation, Davenport also asked commissioners to consider traffic-calming features and neighborhood branding along MLK Jr. Drive, including creative street treatments or artwork that would slow traffic and draw attention to pedestrian crossings.
She suggested incorporating the words “Historical Soque Street” into a speed table or similar traffic feature near Rosa Parks Avenue and Second Street, noting the presence of nearby murals and historically significant buildings, including structures tied to the neighborhood’s early Black-owned businesses.
Davenport emphasized that any street artwork or design elements would be subject to city review and approval.
Workshops tied to mural and history project
Davenport also promoted upcoming community workshops connected to the Brushstrokes for Change project, which aims to preserve oral histories, photographs and cultural memory from Cornelia’s historic Black neighborhoods.
She said a workshop scheduled for Feb. 14 will invite residents to share photographs and memories of the area, with additional gatherings planned through early March. Davenport said the sessions will also provide an opportunity for community input on future public spaces, including the parking area at Rosa Parks Avenue and Martin Luther King Jr. Drive.
Municipal court judge reappointed
In action not listed on the agenda, the Cornelia City Commission unanimously reappointed Winslow H. Verdery as the city’s municipal court judge. Mayor John Borrow said the reappointment required a formal vote and the administration of the oath of office, both of which were completed during the meeting.
Retirement plan expanded for city employees
Commissioners unanimously approved an ordinance amending the city’s Georgia Municipal Employees Benefit System defined benefit retirement plan to allow all employees to retire at age 55 with at least 25 years of service.
City Manager Donald Anderson said the plan was amended in 2024 to extend the benefit to public safety personnel and that the new change expands eligibility to all city employees. He said the amendment will increase the city’s annual contribution by $64,000, which has already been budgeted in the city’s 2026 budget. No public comments were received on the ordinance.
Railroad pedestrian bridge planning approved
The commission also unanimously approved an agreement with Carter & Sloope Engineering to handle planning and development for a proposed railroad pedestrian bridge.
Anderson said the city received a railroad crossing elimination grant to fund the planning phase of the project. The cost of the services totals $1.407 million, covered by a $1.437 million grant, with $30,000 allocated for grant administration through the Georgia Mountains Regional Commission.
Mayor John Borrow confirmed the project will not cost local taxpayers. Anderson said the funding is provided by the railroad “in an effort to keep people off their tracks.”
Streambank repairs approved for Galloway Street
Commissioners also approved a contract to repair streambank erosion along Galloway Street.
Anderson said a 2018 storm culvert replacement corrected chronic flooding in the area but increased water flow, causing erosion along the creek bank. The city budgeted $69,000 for the repair based on previous projects, but all bids exceeded that amount.
The lowest bid, from Wilcore, totaled $97,200. Commissioners approved the bid along with a budget adjustment transferring $28,200 from the Front Street drainage project to the stormwater utility fund.
Anderson said photographs provided to commissioners showed ongoing erosion that has residents concerned about losing property to the creek.
