Nashville might rename downtown Charlotte Avenue after Martin Luther King Jr.

The Metro Council is set to consider a proposal to rename the stretch of Charlotte Avenue that is in downtown Nashville after the late Martin Luther King Jr. as the 50th anniversary of the civil rights icon's assassination nears.

Nashville is one of just a few major cities, both in the South and nationally, that lacks a street named after King even though Tennessee's other largest cities, Memphis, Chattanooga and Knoxville, each have streets named after him.

"I think that Nashville needs to lead this charge," said At-large Councilwoman Sharon Hurt, who has introduced an ordinance that would honor King with the street name "It's a wonderful thing for the capital. Nashville is one of the only large cities that doesn't have a street named after MLK.

"To know that Martin Luther King came to Nashville to get inspiration...I think it's a testament of how Nashville can show the love that they have for MLK," Hurt said. "I just think it's time."

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The ordinance, which is set for a first of three votes on Tuesday, would rename the part of Charlotte Avenue between Third Avenue and Interstate 40 near George L. Davis Boulevard to “Dr. M. L. King, Jr. Boulevard.” The change would take effect Nov. 7, 2018. The Nashville Post first reported discussions about the name-change.

If the ordinance advances through the council without any hiccups, it would go to the council for approval at the council's April 3 meeting. King was assassinated in Memphis on April 4, 1968.

"I really feel like Nashville needs some good news right now," Hurt said. "We need to let them know that the city is still moving forward and doing things that make the citizenry proud."

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The ordinance's co-sponsors include council members Freddie O'Connell, Fabian Bedne, Larry Hagar and Karen Johnson.

Hurt said Charlotte Avenue is appropriate for the new name because it has a fewer number of residents and businesses that would be affected compared to other streets.

The stretch of Charlotte Avenue that would be affected includes multiple state-owned buildings, including the Tennessee State Capitol, which is at 600 Charlotte Ave. A spokeswoman for Gov. Bill Haslam did not immediately respond to an email seeking the governor's position on the proposal.

Hurt said the governor's office told her it supports the change. But she said the office suggested the renaming be delayed until after the November election, when the next governor will be elected, because of letterhead changes that will be required.

Renaming the stretch of Charlotte Avenue would be the second downtown street renaming in the last year after the council voted last May to rename Capitol Boulevard in downtown Nashville after Dallas Dudley Boulevard, a Tennessee women suffragist who was key to women gaining the right to vote.

Reach Joey Garrison at 615-259-8236, jgarrison@tennessean.com and on Twitter @joeygarrison.