Upper King Street Residents Upset with Plans for 7-Eleven

The Upper King Street Neighborhood Civic Association has sent a letter to the City of Alexandria asking that it deny a special use permit allowing the opening and operation of a 7-Eleven near the intersection of King and Harvard streets.

“Our members have repeatedly voiced their opposition to the proposed store based on hard facts about the effect a twenty-four-hour-a-day, seven-day-a-week store that stands less than forty feet from dozens of single family homes will have on our property values, our neighborhood, our children and our lives,” reads the letter signed by group President Trey Hanbury.

Hanbury told Patch said the store has indicated it expects about 1,500 customers per day and “probably that’s not all foot traffic,” he said. The association is concerned that drivers looking to stop into the convenience store will not find parking causing additional traffic congestion.

The store is requesting that it open shop at 1619 King Street. 

The group, which clearly stated it is not “opposed to all 7-Elevens,” said it believes the proposed store is incompatible with the vision of King Street development. The group is concerned about litter, additional stop-and-go traffic, loitering, lighting and the effect on nearby property values., among other things.

The civic association in the letter pointed out that there are three existing 7-Eleven stores less than a mile away as well as a Whole Foods, Safeway and Trader Joes.

Hanbury’s group has met with the city’s Planning and Zoning Department and said it was receptive to member concerns.

Department Director Faroll Hamer said: “I think they have some excellent points. We haven’t taken a position on the matter.” The Planning and Zoning Commission will hold a community meeting on the issue in April and a hearing May 3.

The civic associationg also met with 7-Eleven representatives in November, but Hanbury said he did not feel the company was flexible in "considering reducing the 24-hour service.” He said it was unclear if it would be willing to limit alcohol sales.

Hanbury added that the Jefferson Houston School, which is located near the proposed store, has expressed some concerns about students gravitating toward the convenience-store food as well as traffic issues.

"If anyone in the United States says they've never been to a 7-Eleven, they're lying," Hanbury said. "It can be a convenience, but this particular spot is a narrow street with nowhere to park, a parking lot you can't actually park in and the possibility that people may just stop and eat or drink their purchases on somebody's front lawn or the school next door."