By Eric Curl
Aug. 8, 2022 – The Savannah City Council is set to consider an honorary street designation dedicated to U.S. Sen. Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.), who grew up in Savannah’s Kayton Homes public housing community.
Cape Street, which runs through Kayton Homes, would be designated “Raphael Warnock Way” under the proposal going before the city council Thursday. The honorary street designation is only symbolic and would not change the name of the street.
The proposed designation is being considered at the request of Savannah Mayor Van Johnson, who said during a July interview for Savannah Agenda that he requested the designation because he thought it was important to recognize the historic nature of having a US Senator with local roots.
“I think it’s even more historic that he is a product of public housing,” Johnson said. “I think it’s important for little boys who grow up on that block to know that greatness is not defined by where you live.”
The designations are temporary and effective for five years, under the ordinance, although they can be extended.
The Housing Authority of Savannah is scheduled to consider the city’s request for the designation on Tuesday, since the city’s naming ordinance requires the approval of the surrounding property owner. The board was unable to vote on the request at the July 13 meeting, due to a lack of a quorum, but the three members present did voice support for the designation.
Warnock, who continues to serve as the senior pastor of Atlanta’s Historic Ebenezer Baptist Church, is running for his first full term after being elected on Jan. 5, 2021, in a special election runoff to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Johnny Isakson. He is currently running for re-election in November against the Republican nominee, former NFL player Herschel Walker.
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