King Street to Lose Parking for Wider Sidewalks

Leesburg Town Council members wrangled Tuesday night over the best way to proceed with changes along King Street downtown that offer the best bang for the buck.

A divided council voted 5-2 to adopt the option of three available (Plan A) that calls for the removal of the most parking spaces along the street in exchange for wider sidewalks and the potential for outdoor dining and other activities. The King Street changes, which run from Loudoun Street to Cornwall Street, are part of the overall all Downtown Improvements Project.

“I’m excited about this,” said Councilwoman Kelly Burk. “I’m excited about the prospect that we’re going to make some changes.”

Burk and other council members made clear in their comments that their votes were compromises, with members disagreeing about the need for parking along King String.

The council considered three options:

• Plan A, remove 13 parking spaces to provide more sidewalk space, $1.2 million, 11 spaces remain
• Plan B, add crosswalks and other aesthetic changes, remove six spaces, $1.5 million, 19 spaces remain
• Plan C, construct moveable curbs that can convert the parking spaces to sidewalk space, $2 million to $2.5 million, zero to 24 spaces

Councilman David Butler said the options wider sidewalks would provide for retailers and restaurants would draw more people to King Street and downtown Leesburg.

“The street is dead,” Butler said, adding wider sidewalks could result in outdoor dining and entertainment, and spark more activity. “The on-street arts, entertainment and dining will make an enormous difference to Main Street.

That creates a buzz.”

Councilman Thomas Dunn voted for the changes, but first attempted unsuccessfully to add more parking spaces. Councilwoman Katie Sheldon Hammler said business owners who spoke before the council persuaded her that the majority preferred more sidewalk options instead of preserving parking spaces.

But Mayor Kristen Umstattd and Councilman Kevin Wright remain unconvinced.

“I’ve always believed in the downtown improvements,” Wright said, however, he was not certain the proposed changes provided the solution. Opponents of the plan, he pointed out, were concerned about losing parking spaces directly in front of their stores.

“There are several folks out there in the community who quite frankly are terrified,” Wright said, adding that just permitting more options would not automatically make them happen. “I’m not sold you’re going to get the on-street dining.”

However, he promised he would help implement whatever strategy the council chose.

Mayor Umstattd said there were many resident who might not patronize King Street businesses without easily accessible parking.

“I’m worried about China King. I’m worried about the Vintner. I’m worried about Leesburg Restaurant,” she said.

Council Marty Martinez, who made the motion to approve Plan A, said he was less concerned about parking than with making a significant change to help the downtown area lure customers.

“We already have parking in our garage,” he said. “I think we’ve got some great design, some great opportunity here.”

Umstattd and Wright voted against the motion.