food trucks
Want to see food trucks in downtown CH? Want to eat good food while contributing to the IFC's Community House? Come enjoy 5 food trucks in the parking lot at 300 E Rosemary St on Sunday April 28th 4-8pm.
Date:
Sunday, April 28, 2013 - 4:00pm to 8:00pm
Location:
Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, 300 E. Rosemary St, Chapel Hill
I support environmental protection and the mitigation of global climate change. I do not believe that every business should be allowed to do what they what. But there are times when government is in the wrong and shouldn’t kowtow to existing businesses and their supporting organizations at the cost of new business. So to kick this post off I’m going to reclaim a bit of conservative rhetoric. Because it applies in this situation.
It should not be the job of the Town of Chapel Hill to pick which business succeeds and which fails. But this is what they are doing by aggressively regulating food trucks away from the streets of Chapel Hill. It’s called protectionism. The result of the Town of Chapel Hill food truck ordinance is protecting existing brick and motar businesses from competition with food trucks. This is accomplished by charging a fee that is unaffordable to food trucks. The fact that almost no food truck owners will pay the Town fee to provide services in our Town is evidence of that.
In January of 2012, after more than a year of debate, discussion, and deliberation about food trucks in Chapel Hill, the Town Council finally passed an ordinance to allow them in our community.
But then no food trucks came.
I’ve spent the last two months talking to food truck owners, local businesses, advocates, and town staff about our ordinance. While there is still disagreement, it seems clear that there is one thing we can all agree on: Our food truck ordinance is not working. I think this is because we didn’t understand the regional economy of the food truck industry in the Triangle. In Durham, food trucks thrive because the community has embraced the food truck business model, and empty parking lots in downtown become natural gathering places for this model of food delivery.
Chapel Hill feared that opening the door to food trucks would provide too much competition to brick and mortar restaurants. We were also concerned that the number of food truck applicants would overwhelm our staff’s ability to review and inspect them. No matter how we write our ordinance, I don’t believe either of those things will happen.
UNC Student Government and Campus Y host candidate forum: What do candidates really think about town-and-gown relations?
As a student of social justice at Chapel Hill’s largest employer, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, I am acutely aware of the impact my education plays on the economic and demographic make-up of our community. With the UNC Student Government and Campus Y (the center for social justice on campus) coming together on November 3, 2011, to host a candidate forum, I had hoped students would finally have their most salient concerns heard by potential council representatives. Even more, I was optimistic that students without cars or a thorough understanding of the intricate bus system would finally gain access to the campaign process, which has built to a climax over the past weeks.
Durham Tech’s Orange County Campus Hosts Sustainability Technologies Fair
Interested in solar technology? Learn more during Durham Technical Community College’s Sustainability Technologies Fair. The event will be held on Saturday, April 30, from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. on Durham Tech’s Orange County Campus in Hillsborough. Beginning this fall, the Sustainability Technologies program will offer both the Solar Photovoltaic certificate and the Renewable Energy diploma. Visitors can view solar technology demonstrations and talk to solar technology professionals. Some representatives from locally-owned solar installation companies include Strata Solar, Southern-Energy Management, and Sun Dogs Solutions. Visitors may also participate in 30-minute sustainability and renewable energy workshops led by Durham Tech instructors. Other highlights: - Enjoy live music from local high school bands using an amplification system powered by solar energy;
- Learn about the new Sustainability Technologies credit programming at the Orange County Campus;
- Find out how to apply for financial aid and admissions for Summer Term 2011 and Fall Semester 2011 courses;
- Enjoy a delicious meal prepared by one of our locally owned and operated food truck vendors
The Solar Photovoltaic certificate is designed for licensed electricians, those pursuing an electrical degree, and those who are working in facilities services under the supervision of an electrician. The certificate instruction includes both energy use analysis and solar photovoltaic system installation.
The new Renewable Energy diploma includes electrical and math courses for students without previous electrical experience. The diploma program includes work experience with a local company. The renewable energy diploma may be completed in five semesters. This new program will position Durham Tech and Orange County as leaders and models in the state for developing innovative and practical green training programs and initiatives.
For the most up-to-date event information please go to the event webpage:
For more information, contact Carlo Robustelli at 919-536-7238, ext. 4202, or [email protected].Date:
Saturday, April 30, 2011 - 10:00am to 2:00pm
Location:
Durham Tech's Orange County Campus, 525 College Park Road, Hillsborough NC
My wife and I attended the food truck rodeo near Al's Garage this recent Saturday. There were five food trucks: Captain Ponchos Tacos, Parlez Vous Crepe, Only Burger, Will and Pops, Blue Sky Dining. I enjoyed the event, and since I have frequented all of the vendors except for Blue Sky, that is where I bought my dinner. There was a good turnout, and many of my friends were there too. We all had a good time. Here are a few comments I have about the experience.
Five Amazing Food Trucks--March 19th--At Al's Garage in Carrboro from 4pm until 7pm. Music, good weather, top notch cuisine. Captain Ponchos Tacos, Parlez Vous Crepe, Will and Pops, Only Burger, and Blue Sky Dining. Pet friendly. Cash accepted. No admission fee. On Main Street in Carrboro (near Crooks Corner, Jiffy Lube) as it begins to turn into Franklin Street.
Round-up your friends for Street Cuisine multiplied by FIVE
Date:
Saturday, March 19, 2011 - 4:00pm to 7:00pm
Location:
Al's Garage, 100 S Merritt Mill Rd
On Monday, Feb 28, the town of Chapel Hill will hold a public forum in response to Lex Alexander's petition to allow food trucks to operate on private property within town limits. Food trucks, such as Parlez-Vous Crepes and Only Burger, have a dedicated following in Durham and Carrboro, but are prohibited by zoning ordinances in Chapel Hill and Raleigh. These businesses are currently required to meet state health department regulations. At the local level, they pay for a variety of licenses, including a business license and an itinerant merchant permit. In Durham, they are required to be "tethered to a brick and mortor kitchen" and they also pay "rent" to the business whose private property they operate from (same as in Carrboro).
I was very distressed to read in the Carrboro Citizen that the town development review administrator is trying to shut down the taco trucks that serve food in the parking lots at Fitch's Lumber, Cliff's Meat Market and Johnny's Sporting Goods -- in response to one anonymous complaint. They have until tomorrow to shut down. They can appeal the decision, but that process will cost $250 a pop. You can read the full article here.
I have loved the taco trucks. I love the food. I love that the food is cheap and quick and fresh. I love their salsa. And what I really love (almost as much as their salsa, and the fact that they serve tripe, which I never have the nerve to try) is that they are some of the most diverse dining establishments in town.
Is there anything hungry citizens can do to save the taco trucks??
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