Council Votes to Keep Church Street Open Amid Safety Concerns

July 22, 2025 | Leesburg, Loudoun, Virginia


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Council Votes to Keep Church Street Open Amid Safety Concerns
The Leesburg Town Council meeting held on July 22, 2025, covered a range of community updates and decisions impacting local residents. The meeting began with a warm welcome to Paris Baguette, a new café that recently opened, following a ribbon-cutting ceremony on July 11. The café is noted for its delightful food and pastries.

A significant discussion centered around the Craven Memorial marker, which commemorates the lynching of Charles Craven. The council emphasized the importance of acknowledging painful historical events as a means of fostering truth, healing, and reconciliation within the community. This marker serves to honor the memory of those who suffered and to promote a better future by recognizing the broader history of racial violence and injustice.

The town manager and council members also attended a meeting with other Northern Virginia municipalities to share insights on problem-solving strategies. Additionally, the council highlighted the success of the recent Summer Jam concerts, thanking staff for their efforts in organizing these community events.

A key decision made during the meeting involved a request from the Board of Supervisors to close Church Street for safety reasons. After thorough discussion, the council unanimously voted to keep Church Street open, concluding that closing the street would not adequately address safety concerns and could complicate traffic flow, ultimately impacting residents negatively.

The meeting concluded with a reminder about the upcoming "Taste of Leesburg" event on August 9, which will celebrate the 200th anniversary of Lafayette's visit to the town. The event will feature reenactments and speeches, including participation from notable figures such as Chuck Schwamm, the executive director of the American Friends of Lafayette.

Overall, the meeting reflected the council's commitment to community engagement, historical recognition, and the prioritization of resident safety.

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