A downtown Houston avenue that runs previous Metropolis Corridor might quickly bear the title of the late Congressman and former Mayor Sylvester Turner, due to a proposal by Metropolis Controller Chris Hollins.
“He left an unimaginable legacy,” Hollins stated. “He’s deserving of honor, and renaming a avenue within the coronary heart of our metropolis is only one approach we are able to pay tribute to his reminiscence.”
Turner, who served two phrases as Houston’s mayor, spent greater than 25 years representing Northwest Houston within the Texas Legislature. Hollins, who now holds town controller place, stated Turner performed a pivotal function in his political journey.
“Lengthy earlier than I used to be concerned in politics, earlier than he had any cause to put money into me, he made himself obtainable,” Hollins stated. “Over time, he turned a mentor and a pricey good friend.”
Hollins launched the renaming proposal throughout a current Metropolis Council assembly, the place he turned emotional whereas reflecting on Turner’s affect. Mayor John Whitmire responded by thanking Hollins for his suggestion, signaling openness to honoring Turner’s legacy.
Metropolis Council Member Tiffany Thomas expressed her full help for the initiative. She famous that Turner already has a park named in his honor in his dwelling neighborhood of Acres Houses, and neighborhood members have additionally launched a petition to rename the Bethune Empowerment Heart after him.
“There’s a robust urge for food for this as a result of individuals acknowledge the depth of his contributions,” Thomas stated. “I need to publicly align myself with the Controller’s proposal. I might completely help the renaming of the road.”
For the renaming to maneuver ahead, Houston’s planning division requires a petition exhibiting help from at the very least 75% of property homeowners alongside the stretch of Bagby Avenue in query. As a result of town owns nearly all of these properties, just one further non-public property proprietor would wish to signal on. Different property homeowners embrace Landry’s Group (which owns the Downtown Aquarium), Tennison Lofts (an condominium complicated) and Brookfield Asset Administration (proprietor of Heritage Plaza and a close-by parking storage).
A Brookfield spokesperson stated the corporate hadn’t but obtained the proposal.
Hollins and Thomas are additionally backing a separate initiative to rename a terminal at George Bush Intercontinental Airport in honor of the late Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, who beforehand represented Texas’ 18th Congressional District earlier than Turner. That decision has already obtained unanimous approval from the Metropolis Council.
