[Archived] Alexandria City Council Approves Proposal to Extend Outdoor Dining

City Press Release


	City of Alexandria, Virginia Office of the City Manager Alexandria City Hall 301 King Street, Suite 3500 Alexandria, Virginia 22314-3211 www.alexandriava.gov Telephone: 703.838.4300 Fax : 703.838.6343

February 12, 2005

PIO 045-05/bg

Alexandria City Council Approves Proposal to Extend Outdoor Dining

The Alexandria City Council approved an ordinance today (Feb. 12) to extend a pilot program for outdoor dining in the King Street corridor (Old Town area). Outdoor dining will resume in March and continue through December.

The initial pilot program, which ran from September through December 2004, “was very successful with about two dozen restaurants participating creating a lively and active street scene,” said Mayor William D. Euille. “The outdoor dining has been favorable to businesses and enjoyable for residents and visitors. There seems to be strong support in the community to continue this program on a permanent basis,” he said.

The King Street corridor outdoor dining area will cover King Street from the Unit Block by the river to Daingerfield Road near the King Street Metro Station, a section of Diagonal Road, as well as the 100 north and south blocks of streets that intersect King Street.

The aggregate results of the outdoor dining pilot are consistent with the principles of the draft “King Street Retail Strategy” which the City Council directed to focus on increasing the overall competitiveness of King Street’s retail sector in face of competition in the Washington, D.C. area.. The draft King Street Strategy advocates increasing street-level vitality, including outdoor dining. The next step in the process is a King Street Community Meeting, scheduled for Tuesday, Feb. 15, 7:30 pm at the Hilton Alexandria Old Town, 1767 King St. With public discussion of the King Street Strategy continuing into this spring and when the Strategy is considered by the City Council, it will include permanent outdoor dining standards.