A section of Post Street in Downtown San Jose will soon be permanently closed to vehicle traffic.

On Tuesday, the San Jose City Council unanimously approved the creation of a pedestrian mall.

“We’re closing half of it,” said Mayor Matt Mahan. “There are several small businesses in the area, and it has also become a central gathering place for our queer community, known as ‘qmmunity.’ It’s turned into a lively and bustling hub.”

The goal is to attract more visitors and enhance the vibrancy of downtown San Jose.

“When the street is closed for events, it attracts a different crowd—people who wouldn’t normally come,” said Blair Carson, owner of Pageboy. “I also think it’s safer. Drivers often go the wrong way down the street.”

With the permanent closure, Carson is already brainstorming event ideas.

“I actually have a personal goal of organizing a music festival on Post Street someday,” she said.

However, business owners are also considering the impact on parking.

Nora, who has run Acapulco Jewelers in the area for 46 years, told NBC Bay Area she worries the change could hurt her business, as many customers rely on the street parking in front of her store.

“It’s a tradeoff,” Mayor Matt Mahan acknowledged. “In a dense downtown, we need parking to be structured more efficiently, like multi-level garages. It’s less convenient, but it makes better use of space.”

This isn’t the first pedestrian mall in downtown. About a year ago, the City Council voted to close part of San Pedro Street to cars. According to Mahan’s office, Post Street will officially close to vehicles starting March 11.