CMG Neighborhood Renaming
Custer - McDonough - Guice (CMG) is a neighborhood in Southeast Atlanta at the southernmost edge of SAND, roughly bordered by Custer, Moreland, McDonough, and Welch streets.
Why change the name of the neighborhood?
The effort began in 2021 and continued in 2022 when SAND neighborhoods got money from the city to replace street signs, but our current name was too long to go on the signs. In addition, the name is just a compound including unrelated street names with militaristic namesakes, and the full three word name for the neighborhood is rarely used by residents. It does not contribute to neighborhood identity or unity. A committee to explore renaming the neighborhood formed in the summer of 2022, and with SAND assistance, took a meeting with City of Atlanta (CoA) representatives. CoA is open to renaming the neighborhood, but asked for clear evidence of a visible and widespread campaign to involve CMG residents in the conversation, and a minimum of 25% of adult resident signatures (344 names with contact information and a CMG address connected to them), along with letters of support from SAND and our City Council representative, to proceed.
Where did the current neighborhood name come from?
• The name was assigned by the City of Atlanta when the area was annexed in 1952 and did not have a name
• The name is a compound based on Custer Ave, McDonough Blvd SE, and Thomas Jefferson Guice Elementary
• Custer Ave gets its name from General George Armstrong Custer, a Civil War soldier, but also shares a name with the infamous General Custer from the American Indian Wars
• McDonough Blvd SE is named for leading to the city of McDonough, which is named after Thomas McDonough, a naval officer during the Barbary War and the War of 1812
• Thomas Jefferson Guice Elementary was an Atlanta Public School (site currently in use by Easter Seals). Thomas’ daughter, Lydia Wood Guice, was the first principal (1954-1960) of what was then known as 'New Benteen Elementary' on Woodland Ave SE. A neighborhood committee wanted to name the school after Lydia, but the City has a policy against naming after living people, so the committee named the school after Lydia’s father, and thereby still bear part of Lydia’s name
Is Custer McDonough Guice the best name for our future?
Residents have suggested keeping “Guice” or “Lydia”. Others have suggested using Maynard “Jackson” for the area high school or names of other local figures. Residents have proposed using “Woods,” “Hills,” or “Creek” in the name, which aligns with features of the neighborhood, and some are opposed to “Heights,” “Terrace,” and “Manor.”
Do you like the neighborhood name? Tell us!
Do you hate the neighborhood name? Tell us!
Do you have an idea for what we should change the name to? Tell us!
Join us on the First and Third Wednesdays of each month for virtual meetings and let us know what you think. Meeting links will be provided by social media and on our mailing list. Please sign up to be added to the mailing list by clicking here. You can also find updates on the neighborhood Facebook page and posted to the neighborhood on Nextdoor.
