History and Expertise
The Institute for Urban Research and Development (IURD) developed and currently operates the first successful sidewalk vending district in the history of Los Angeles--the MacArthur Park Sidewalk Vending District. The District's success is largely due to the fact that IURD worked closely with the County of Los Angeles Health Department to build for approval the first vending carts to legally sell foods on the City's sidewalks.

Located on Alvarado and Seventh Streets along the southern and eastern edges of the park, the district features colorful, professionally manufactured carts, well-maintained streetscapes, quality merchandise and professionally trained vendors providing an ambiance where people will be attracted to come and buy food, beverages and general merchandise. There are presently up to 30 vendors operating in the district five days a week.

Specific Community Problem
The success of the MacArthur Park Sidewalk Vending District has stimulated interest in the creation of other sidewalk vending districts throughout the City of Los Angeles. There are at least seven (7) other communities within the City that have a growing number of public and private agency vending district supporters.

Creating several vending districts, however, means that each district would have to establish its own commissary, food storage area, cart storage area, and cart washing area in order to be approved by County of Los Angeles Health Department. In addition, if the MacArthur Park Sidewalk Vending District was to be completely modeled, each district would also establish an approved culinary school and food processing establishment. Such a decentralized model would be costly.

Description of Proposed Centralized Model

The proposed centralized model would include a:

Commissary
All foods sold on vending carts must be prepared in a Los Angeles County Health Department approved Commissary.

Food Storage Area
All foods prepared in an approved Commissary must be stored in a Los Angeles County Health Department approved Food Storage Area.

Cart Storage Area
All vending carts must be stored in a Los Angeles County Health Department approved Cart Storage Area which must be in close proximity to a County approved Cart Cleaning Area and Commissary. CarCarts would be taken out of storage each day and delivered by truck to vending districts.

Cart Cleaning Area
All vending carts must be cleaned in a Los Angeles County Health Department approved Cart Cleaning Area which must be in close proximity to a County approved Cart Storage Area and Commissary.

Cooking School
A Cooking School prepares vendors to become successful micro-business operators and for employment in the food service industry.

Food Processing Establishment
A Los Angeles County Health Department approved Food Processing Establishment permits foods to be prepared and packaged for sale.

Cart Manufacturing
In addition, the centralized building would also provide an area in which vending carts would be built for County approval. Vending carts in need of repairs would also be serviced.