City of Alexandria, Virginia
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MEMORANDUM
DATE: MARCH 3, 2021
TO: THE HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL
FROM: MARK B. JINKS, CITY MANAGER /s/
DOCKET TITLE:
TITLE
Public Hearing, Second Reading and Final Passage of an Ordinance Approving and Authorizing the Closure of Wales Alley, between South Union and Strand Streets, to Vehicular Traffic. [ROLL-CALL VOTE]
BODY
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ISSUE: Consideration of closing the block of Wales Alley between Strand Street and South Union Street to vehicular traffic.
RECOMMENDATION: That the City Council:
1. Introduce and approve on first reading Tuesday, March 9, 2021, the
ordinance (Attachment 2) approving and authorizing the closure of Wales Alley, between South Union and Strand Streets, to vehicular traffic; and
2. Set the ordinance for second reading, public hearing and final passage on Saturday,
March 13, 2021.
BACKGROUND: The section of Wales Alley between Strand Street and South Union Street is a one-way alley heading east towards the Potomac River (Attachments 3). The alley is approximately 29 feet wide and is paved with decorative brick pavers. Prior to the pandemic, the southern half of the alley was used for outdoor dining for the adjacent restaurant Virtue Feed and Grain, which was approved through a license agreement in 2016. A five-foot-wide sidewalk is located on the north side adjacent to retail buildings containing Old Town Books and Bike and Roll. The area in between was available for one-way vehicular travel, although traffic on this alley is very light. Other nearby businesses include Starbucks, Mai Thai, Ben and Jerry's, the Old Town Shop, and Windsor of Old Town Salon and Spa. Wales Alley had primarily been used to access the Old Dominion Boat Club's parking lot that was previously on the east side of Strand Street. However, now that the Boat Club has moved, this access ...
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