Possibilities Near Delta Park: a New Food Cart Complex?

Bird’s eye view of the location of a potential food cart complex on N Hayden Meadows Drive. Photo credit: Portland Maps

Last month I came across a city permit indicating a new food cart complex could come to the Delta Park area on Hayden Meadows Drive. The permit had to do with arranging a “Pre-Application Conference”—this is “a meeting that the Bureau of Development Services has with a person who is interested in doing a development project in the City of Portland.” Interestingly enough this conference took place this morning. Outcome is unknown to me, but the whole thing is intriguing.

The food cart complex would sit in an area referred to on a Loopnet ad as “Delta Park Center Pads” at 1223 N Hayden Meadows Drive. It’s a dirt lot surrounded by trees, bushes, and asphalt; it’s next to the Shari’s and across the street from what used to be a Burrito House. Aside: that Burrito House lot will become a 7-11 (aka grocery store) and gas station, as reported by Next Portland and further specified by a completed permit (you can also see it in color on the Loopnet ad).

This morning’s Pre-Application Conference involved the project’s applicant, award-winning architect/designer Donnie Schmidt of Centerfield Studio. Centerfield Studio does nice work, and I’m most familiar with their Knot Springs project. On a publicly-accessible BDS document there is a sketch of the proposed design—of course, this could change—but it looks very nice (click to enlarge).

The complex is referred to as both “The Meadow” and “Delta Carts” on this sketch page. Image credit: City of Portland/Centerfield Studio

It looks like they are considering 10 food carts. There’s covered seating, open seating, parking, charging stations and a walkway. This could be a really nice addition to this area that is home to a variety of businesses: a DMV, a BottleDrop Redemption Center, fast food, chain hotels/motels, and big box stores. And of course, Delta Park. Homes in Bridgeton are not too far away, either.

I hope the meeting this morning was fruitful and I look forward to seeing what’s next. Will keep an eye on this project and report back with any news of the proposed food cart complex.