For those of you who have visited Portland recently, you probably have noticed that Portland has a vibrant and prosperous road food scene. It's hard to miss since over 580 food carts have popped up in empty lots throughout the city. When Abbie and I visited Portland last week, we were immediately impressed with the diversity of foods being served. All things from Thai, to Vietnamese, to mini donuts, hot dogs, tacos, pulled pork, roast beef, and much more are offered within a 2 block area in uptown Portland. We made one circle to inspect the offerings, and after a quick second walk around the block, I couldn't wait to unwrap my findings. My duck confit baguette from Addy's Sandwich Bar melted in my mouth with duck fat flavor while my poached chicken with rice was so good it warped me back to the streets of Bangkok.
As a Seattle resident, I can only look at Portland's road food scene with envy, and I stare at vacant lots, sidewalks, and curbsides here in Seattle with nothing but wishful thinking. But our wishes might soon come true. Seattle is currently considering proposals to pilot a road food scene right here in Seattle, along with here on Capitol Hill as soon as spring or summer!
Carts For Dogs To Pull
Current law limits Seattle road vendors to sell only hotdogs, espresso, popcorn, and flowers and are not allowed to setup within 200 feet of any parks. Mobile food trucks like Marination are currently only allowed to sell at building sites or on incommunicable property. They aren't able to park on the road or group sidewalk to sell food. These restrictions are why Seattle's road food scene is in it's current state.
The city of Seattle has examined Portland's road food scene and has found that it brings many benefits to the community.
• Food vendors attract foot traffic to market districts, which means increased sales and a more vibrant retail firm overall.
• Food vendors bring determined operation to the road and add a festive, people-oriented feel that improves group safety. Food vendors furnish a window into many diverse cultures, introducing habitancy to new foods and to the pleasures of spending time in the group space of the city.
• Food vending can be an ideal first business. For many immigrant and refugee communities, food vending offers a point of entry to the economy and a way to learn the food aid industry.
There are some concerns, however, about what the road food movement may bring. Local restaurants feel threatened that food carts and trucks might cut into their own profits. Questions of how to limit litter, garbage and over crowded sidewalks are also a concern. And of course, enforcement of hygiene and food security is paramount.
Looking ahead to the future, here are some key components to what the city has in mind in its proposals to turn law concerning road food.
• Diversify types of food that can be sold from food carts - This would allow road food vendors to serve more than just hot dogs, espresso, popcorn, and flowers. The condition branch is considering expanding this list to allow assembly of pre-cooked ingredients and other foods on a case-by-case basis.
• generate a road Use Permit for Mobile trucks. This would allow the Seattle branch of communication to issue road use permits so Mobile trucks could control in designated spaces.
• generate setbacks from restaurants and eliminate required 200' park setback. Since road vendors have been shown to enhance park safety, the 200' park setback would be eliminated. Also, vendors would have to setup a minimum of 50' away from brick and mortar restaurants in order to safe their businesses.
These proposals are to be piloted in Seattle's central neighborhoods, along with on Broadway in Capitol Hill to help fill the void of Light Rail construction.
Gary Johnson, The branch of Planning and development coordinator that is foremost this project, believes that the above proposals will be submitted to the City Council within a integrate weeks. The council will likely take a integrate of months to reconsider it and Johnson hopes that the new regulations will be in place by late spring/early summer.
So whether you're going out for a quick lunch break or looking for grub between bar stops on a Saturday night, we may soon have a lot more to select from than just cream cheese or no cream cheese on our hotdog.
Late spring/early summer can't come soon enough.
arrival Soon - Seattle road Food Revolution
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