City of Alexandria
The "unit" (last) block of King Street, east of Union Street, and a portion of The Strand will close to vehicles starting this weekend.
The closure will allow pedestrians to more safely walk from the already-closed 100 block of King Street to Waterfront Park and other restaurants along the river. It is a pilot project that will continue through Labor Day before City Council decides whether to make the change permanent.
"Following the closure of the 100 block of King Street, there has been an observable decline in through traffic on the unit block," city officials reported in a memo to City Council earlier this year. "This decline, and the popularity of the new Waterfront Park, has led to an increase in pedestrian volume on the Unit block and the Strand. In addition, based on the success of the closure of the 100 block, staff has received requests from the businesses along the unit block to assess the feasibility of closing this block as well."
A few non-restaurant businesses along the 100 block have reportedly struggled a bit since the change to a pedestrian zone, as residents tend to walk along the middle of the street and not on the sidewalk. However, city officials noted, "There is a positive revenue impact from additional meal taxes collected as this closure will allow restaurants to expand their seating outdoors. While exact estimates are difficult to project, providing more space for this will help restaurants maintain and possibly increase business."
