The former Old Post Office Building in Washington DC, now operating as a hotel under Donald Trump's management, has found itself at the centre of a fresh controversy. The establishment has abruptly closed a crucial public cut-through, sparking outrage among daily commuters, local families, and city officials.
This pedestrian walkway, a popular shortcut for hundreds navigating between Pennsylvania Avenue and the surrounding downtown area, is now blocked by imposing planters and prominent 'No Trespassing' signs. The move has been perceived as a brazen prioritisation of private hotel operations over longstanding public convenience.
A Vital Route Suddenly Sealed Off
For years, this passage has served as an essential artery for Washingtonians. Office workers used it to quickly grab lunch, parents pushed strollers through on their way to parks, and tourists utilised it to avoid the busy main roads. Its sudden closure has forced pedestrians onto a significantly less convenient, longer route around the entire city block, adding unnecessary time to their journeys.
Local commuters expressed their frustration to reporters. One daily user called the closure "a massive inconvenience that shows a complete disregard for the people who actually live and work here," highlighting the tone-deaf nature of the decision.
Legal Grey Area and Official Condemnation
The legal standing of the closure remains murky. While the property is privately managed, the status of the walkway itself—whether it is a formal public easement or not—is a point of contention. This ambiguity has not stopped officials from voicing strong criticism.
City representatives have condemned the action, labelling it an unacceptable infringement on the public's right to navigate their own city freely. There are growing calls for an immediate review of the property's permits and a potential legal challenge to force the hotel to reopen the passageway.
The incident is seen as emblematic of a wider clash between private commercial interests and public space in urban areas, with this particular battle playing out on a doorstep bearing the name of a deeply divisive former president.
