A mobile food vending pilot program
comes to 68 Haywood this year!

With more than 75 food trucks listed as active in the Asheville area on ashevillefoodtrucks.com, offerings could be wide ranging — everything from tacos to gourmet grilled cheese sandwiches.

It’s one of several temporary uses recommended by the Haywood Street Community Advisory Team, now made easier for the City-owned sites at 68 Haywood and 33 Page Avenue. These parcels were the subject of a community visioning process that took place between June 2016 and March 2017, facilitated by the Asheville Design Center. In addition to recommendations for long-term uses of the properties, the Haywood Street Advisory Team’s Visioning Report recommended short-term uses such as raised garden beds, mobile food vending, open vendor markets, movable seating, interactive public art and designated performance space. In May 2017, Asheville City Council directed staff to implement the recommendations.

The City installed electricity, an ADA-accessible surface, temporary landscaping and seating on the 68 Haywood Street site to help accommodate temporary uses. So far, 68 Haywood short-term uses have included a car show, vendor markets, recreational and educational activities and adventure play for children. Meanwhile, the Elder & Sage neighborhood group now manages a community garden on the Page Avenue property.

Once the site opened and after an initial call for programs, it was made available for use through  the Outdoor Special Events permitting process. But feedback came in from food truck vendors that the process was cost prohibitive for food truck/vendor uses not in association with an organized event. So City Council directed City staff to create a new permit process. Mobile food vending programs and policies in regional cities such as Greensboro, Charlotte, Raleigh and Greenville, S.C., were reviewed to develop the pilot.

Simplified application process

Now, there is a simple application form and process for mobile food vendors, which will run as a pilot program throughout 2018. Interested vendors can fill out the application form here and submit a one-time $50 application fee.

Once approved, vendors can operate on the site during its open hours (7 a.m. – 10 p.m. daily) on a first-come, first-served basis. Please note that when outdoor special events are scheduled at the site, permit holders will be notified that they cannot vend during those days/times.

Want more information?

•         Find information about outdoor special events on public property here
•         More information on temporary uses at 68 Haywood is available at ashevillenc.gov/68Haywood.
•         Find information on the visioning process and long-term planning of the City-owned Haywood Street and Page Avenue properties.

Update: A Facebook page has formed for food truck vendors using 68 Haywood. Visit 68 Haywood St Food Truck Court.