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I oculd see a food pod (2-3 Food Trucks) on a parking lot here and there. What about other uses. What parking lot in town would you most like to see recreated as a Parking Lot with Perks?
Columbus Underground Messageboard » General Columbus Discussion » Development
Parking Lots as Public Spaces
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joshlapp
SoHud
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The Lincoln Theater lot in the KLD. Multiple office buildings and limited food options within the area. Also close enough to CCAD and CSCC that if the vendors because popular they could draw some folks over. Also is a city owned lot so they may be willing to give discounted rent ect.
Posted 4 months ago # -
Walker
The KLD / Downtown
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I agree that the neighborhood could use a good food truck or two, but not sure CSCC/CCAD would be drawn over. I'd work on targeting residents and workers in addition to the foodie fans who will seek out good food trucks regardless of where they're parked.
Posted 4 months ago # -
ZHC
101 East Main Street, Downtown
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FoodFort said:
What parking lot in town would you most like to see recreated as a Parking Lot with Perks?probably a site that food carts would just kill it in lunch business and is large enough to hold a good number of trucks is the NW corner of Gay and High.
Dunno if the property owner would be interested though. I think that lot is pretty full pretty often.
Posted 4 months ago # -
leftovers
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ZHC said:
probably a site that food carts would just kill it in lunch business and is large enough to hold a good number of trucks is the NW corner of Gay and High.Dunno if the property owner would be interested though. I think that lot is pretty full pretty often.
Awesome location, I think the B&M Gay street restaurants would fight to the death to stop this though - which I think is fairly nearsighted.
Posted 4 months ago # -
ZHC
101 East Main Street, Downtown
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leftovers said:
I think the B&M Gay street restaurants would fight to the death to stop this though - which I think is fairly nearsighted.I don't know if they would or wouldn't. I certainly think the existing building occupants should get a big say so in the outcome. And I wouldn't blame them if they did block it assuming this location was even under consideration. They have a lot more at stake and produce likely a lot more jobs & taxes than the Street trucks would. And no doubt they are who gave Gay Street its' current vibe.
However Gay Street is basically becoming downtown's new primetime lunch destination since City Center was gutted. This sort of wider choice I would think actually increase its' overall draw and give it a stranglehold on the Cap Square area lunch crowd. Whether the additional foot traffic would be enough for the existing restaurants to maintain and grow current sales as well as offset new competition, I couldn't say without a study. But I'd be inclined to think it would.
Posted 4 months ago # -
Walker
The KLD / Downtown
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leftovers said:
Awesome location, I think the B&M Gay street restaurants would fight to the death to stop this though - which I think is fairly nearsighted.You're going to assume something collectively about a diverse group of people and then insult them based on your assumption? Nice.
Posted 4 months ago # -
Walker
The KLD / Downtown
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ZHC said:
probably a site that food carts would just kill it in lunch business and is large enough to hold a good number of trucks is the NW corner of Gay and High. Dunno if the property owner would be interested though. I think that lot is pretty full pretty often.That lot owner has already accomodated several mobile food businesses for the past two years including 3 Babes & A Baker, Johnny Oak's and Family's Mobile Kitchen. I imagine they pay a premium monthly rate and they get to set up in a parking spot adjacent to the sidewalk.
I agree that the area is prime, as it's walkable from both directions from the office clusters at Broad & High and at Nationwide & High.
Just needs some better places to sit and whatnot. ;)
Posted 4 months ago # -
leftovers
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I know that Liz has mentioned her position on food carts at Gallery Hop and is involved with a collective organization of restaurants in the central business district.
Personally, I think food carts help the B&Ms.
If I am way off base I apologize, but obviously this location and Columbus Commons are prime locations for food truck courts, I hope we can collectively make this happen.
Posted 4 months ago # -
Pickerington_Kyle
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What about the corner of 3rd and High? It could be a prime-time real estate location, food trucks, light rail hub. etc..
Posted 4 months ago # -
ZHC
101 East Main Street, Downtown
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Walker said:
That lot owner has already accomodated several mobile food businesses for the past two years including 3 Babes & A Baker, Johnny Oak's and Family's Mobile Kitchen. I imagine they pay a premium monthly rate and they get to set up in a parking spot adjacent to the sidewalk.I agree that the area is prime, as it's walkable from both directions from the office clusters at Broad & High and at Nationwide & High.
Just needs some better places to sit and whatnot. ;)
yeah that's a little different though, I don't know if the lot owners want to take it to the next level in terms of commitment though, whether it be this Nytimes outdoor park idea or a Dinin' hall kinda thing.
That site I'm sure is ultimately just marking time until a prime time office tower tenant possibility comes along. And I'm sure in the meantime the owners will pick whatever option gives them the most bang for their buck whatever that ends up being.
Posted 4 months ago # -
lizless
Columbus/Hocking Hills
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leftovers said:
Awesome location, I think the B&M Gay street restaurants would fight to the death to stop this though - which I think is fairly nearsighted.Nope, we invited the Foodie Cart to set up shop in front of Tip Top and have happily supplied them with ice & bathrooms. And the breakfast burrito truck often sets up at Gayx4th. And yep, GayxHigh has the trucks like 3 Babes (Tip Top happily buys pies from their truck to sell in our restaurant) and then there's the Pearly Alley Market (Tip Top buys their farmer's market produce) and we all fought for their sidewalk rights. We like activity on the street. Win-win.
Posted 4 months ago # -
lizless
Columbus/Hocking Hills
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On a different note, I think it would be a good idea for the City of Columbus Department of Public Service to loosen their street laws regarding food trucks. Right now, NO food trucks are allowed in parking spaces at any time. I think that there are plenty of parking spots where there aren't any cars after hours that would be great spots for food trucks.
Areas around CCAD, Columbus State, Mound Street, 4th Street, 3rd Street, Fulton and others are great areas filled with empty parking on weekends and evenings that would be great for parking food trucks...and just blocks from Columbus Commons or Scioto Mile. Even High Street downtown on weekends would be a great place to line up food trucks.
Changing the laws would require yet another round of meetings with the Department of Public Service. I don't have the energy to sit at 109 N Front Street for another round of meetings, however, I would organize if any food trucks would care to carry the torch. ; )
Posted 4 months ago # -
mrpoppinzs
Arena District
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There is a article about Food Truck hubs in the main page. I think Columbus Commons or some parking lot downtown would probably be ideal as it would expose the very large lunch time crowds to more of the food trucks. It would probably be pretty easy to set some rotating list at an approved place at Columbus Commons. The city has been active with helping small business at the North Market, I can see aiding food trucks at the park as being similar in nature.
Posted 4 months ago # -
Walker
The KLD / Downtown
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derm
Grandview
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Probably even more than that if you count the north market. But as the hubby of a nationwider, they dont venture out as much as you think. That requires time and coats and elevators and such. Four blocks is a blocked off, hour long meeting style lunch. Never happens, trust me. My wife eats packed food and if has more than a few minutes to buy, will go to a long line of average cafeteria food orWalker said:
There's at least a dozen restaurants within a two block radius of Nationwide's offices.
Rogers cafe. If they could get food choices closer to the lobbies that would eliminate time, coats, waiting food that could be carried back to their desks, where lots of them eat, they would clean up. They have a small farmers market in the spring and summer, someone should try to get a spot at the little NW farmers market park. Barring that, a small spot on Chestnut near the door.Posted 4 months ago # -
FoodFort
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Great discussion - thanks for the good ideas - keep them coming.
The article also covered other non food (perish the thought) uses of parking lots or the elimination of some lots - what are your thoughts in those areas?
(I think Walker had a parking lot thread from a year or so back).
Posted 4 months ago # -
FoodFort
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lizless said:
On a different note, I think it would be a good idea for the City of Columbus Department of Public Service to loosen their street laws regarding food trucks. Right now, NO food trucks are allowed in parking spaces at any time. I think that there are plenty of parking spots where there aren't any cars after hours that would be great spots for food trucks.Areas around CCAD, Columbus State, Mound Street, 4th Street, 3rd Street, Fulton and others are great areas filled with empty parking on weekends and evenings that would be great for parking food trucks...and just blocks from Columbus Commons or Scioto Mile. Even High Street downtown on weekends would be a great place to line up food trucks.
Changing the laws would require yet another round of meetings with the Department of Public Service. I don't have the energy to sit at 109 N Front Street for another round of meetings, however, I would organize if any food trucks would care to carry the torch. ; )
I predict we will see some positive changes for Food Trucks and carts this year - that are B & M friendly. Cleveland and Cincinnati have adjusted their regulations to allow fair growth of mobile food in parts of town that could use a boost. Hopefully positive changes can go into effect before the prime season is over.
Posted 4 months ago # -
FoodFort
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Found one of those threads.....
http://www.columbusunderground.com/wasted-space-in-downtown-motorist-parking-lot
Posted 4 months ago #
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