Third Avenue to become University Avenue

FLINT (WJRT) -- (06/09/08)--Third Avenue to University Avenue: Renaming the Flint street has been at the center of controversy in the city for months.

Monday night, Flint City Council had the final say in the matter.

Third Avenue runs east and west, flanked by Kettering University and the University of Michigan-Flint.

The council heard from both supporters and opponents of the name change before taking a vote. After the public hearing, all nine members voted in favor of the name change.

Kettering University and U of M-Flint sit on the opposite ends of the Third Avenue corridor.

When both universities spearheaded a plan eight months ago to rename the street to University Avenue, to some it only made sense.

"It truly is the first step in showing the universities can and will work together," said Kettering's Robert Marias.

There was a plan and a petition, but it's council that gives final approval. Before voting, dozens of supporters expressed the need for change.

There were also those who spoke against it. Then city council had its say.

Council voted overwhelmingly in favor of renaming Third Avenue to University Avenue.

The name change paved the way to many disagreements, but now it unites two universities and will maybe someday help heal a community.

"There's still a lot of work left in the city, but it's the first step we will all take together in this process," said U of M-Flint's David Lossing.

The renaming immediately went into effect, but the street sign for now still says Third Avenue.

Planners say the sign will be changed during a ceremony later this summer.

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