The Dallas City Council is expected to decide today whether gourmet food trucks will be allowed to set up shop in the Dallas Arts District. The Airstream-type and other portable food vendor trailers already received the approval of the City Plan Commission to operate on Flora Street.
Council approval is critical, because current rules prohibit food sale vehicles parking in one spot for more than one hour at a time. As food trailers have become a nationwide trend, the rules – and city leaders – have yet to catch up.
Loyal readers have followed our discussion here on the blog and in our podcast about an idea first proposed by LH’s Jana Boswell to recruit gourmet food trucks to the Lake Highlands Town Center. LH foodies would become accustomed to making that corner their regular dinner destination, she said, priming the center for success when brick-and-mortar restaurants are finally built. In fact, mom-and-pop food trailers could become successful enough to spawn full-out restaurants by the time the town center becomes a reality.
Austin and Portland are among several cities with successful food truck food courts, and a similar one is being planned on Lower Greenville where the burned Arcadia Theater once stood. Picnic tables, electric car chargers and a kids’ playground will be among the amenities. Twisted Root’s Jason Boso has announced plans to take one of six spots.
If the City Council gives their okay today, food trucks could move into the Arts District as early as next month.
