8 • The Southwest Portland Post
FEATURES
July 2012
Richard Stein’s proposed food carts fire up Hillsdale residents
By Jillian Daley
The Southwest Portland Post
At the Hillsdale Neighborhood As-
sociation meeting on June 6, Richard
Stein discussed his proposed food cart
development. Most of the crowd of 40
people attended to hear Stein, leaving
as soon as his presentation was over.
“Last November, I came here and
floated the idea of the possibility of
bringing some food carts to the Hillsdale
neighborhood,” said Stein, a developer
and architect.
“And, over the past five months, that
idea has continued to develop, and now
a design has been worked on and is
ready. So I’ve come back again and show
you what I have in mind – and field your
thoughts and questions.”
Stein had to field plenty of questions
about his proposed four-cart develop-
ment on the southeast corner of South-
west Sunset Boulevard and Capitol
Highway. The discussion, scheduled
for 30 minutes, lasted for more than
an hour.
The plan is to have three carts in place
by the beginning of August, adding
two more within the next year. “Will
the food be healthy?” asked Corinne
Paulson, a neighborhood association
board member.
Part of the inspiration for the project
was to provide high-quality food during
lunchtime for high school students and
to create a place for the community to
socialize in the afternoons and evenings,
Stein said.
Richard Stein on June 6 presented a design
for a plan to place a cluster of food carts at
the corner of Southwest Capitol Highway
and Southwest Sunset Boulevard. (Post
photo by Jillian Daley)
“Will they look good?” asked Glenn
Bridger, also a neighborhood association
board member. “I have never seen an
attractive food cart.”
The project will be “aesthetically
pleasing” with a trellised walk and
landscaping out front, Stein said. To cut
back on paper trash, vendors will use
a token exchange system of reusable
plastic dishes. This is the same “Go Box”
downtown Portland food carts use. Two
portable toilets and hand-washing facili-
ties will be tucked away behind a screen.
Southwest Crime Prevention Program
coordinator Stefanie Adams asked if he
intended to get a liquor license.
“There is no intention,” Stein said. “I
think that has a lot of complications.”
Hillsdale Neighborhood resident
Jason Miner asked if the food cart sites
were being leased and if Stein was the
manager.
“I am leasing the property from the
owner, and the vendors will be leasing
their carts from me,” Stein said.
Stein, who has lived in Hillsdale for
22 years, will be paying for the improve-
ments himself. He said he cares about
the community, so it is a good invest-
ment, and he has figured out how to get
his money back “eventually.”
One cart will offer tacos only and will
not be competing with Casa Colima, a
nearby Mexican restaurant and cantina,
Stein said.
“We are being very careful not to com-
pete,” he said. “How so?” asked Alonso
Ochoa, manager of Casa Colima.
Stein told Ochoa he gave Casa Colima
the first chance to have its own cart in
the Hillsdale food cart court, and the
restaurant turned it down. He added
that the sit-down restaurant has a full
menu, far different from a taco cart.
Several potential food cart operators
were in attendance, including Violetta
owner Dwayne Beliakoff, who would
serve up locally sourced beef and
sweet potato fries. Matt Feiner said his
cart would dish up sweet and savory
waffles. Gary Evans said he didn’t wish
to divulge what his cuisine could be.
Meals will cost about $6-$8 with $2-$4
menu options for students.
A couple of other neighbors asked
about security and crime, and one man
suggested a good neighbor agreement
as a possible remedy. Stein said he
would be amenable to that arrangement
but deferred questions on such an agree-
ment to Adams.
“Such an agreement is not legally
binding but would keep the owner and
neighbors in direct communication
when problems arose,” Adams said.
Though not all feedback was positive,
Stein took the Hillsdale residents’ inter-
est in the project as a good sign. “It is a
great thing this community is talking
about it and concerned,” he said
Many of the questions area residents
asked at the meeting have been posted
on the Hillsdale Neighborhood Associa-
tion website: www.hna-pdx.com. Stein
said on June 20 that he planned to post
his answers online.
Parker Realty, Inc.
Vermont Hills - $415,900
2400 sq ft traditional-
style home built in 1998
situated on a large
secluded lot & features 4
BR 2.5 Baths + den and
a large 3 car garage. This
property is beautifully
maintained & features an open floor plan, large master suite
with fireplace & walk-in closet, great family room, kitchen with
Jeff Parker
granite counters, fireplace, pantry and eating bar, sliders out Your Neighborhood
Realtor Since 1980
to patio & private back yard.
The inventory of houses for sale in the Portland Metro
area remains at historic lows. If you are thinking of
selling contact us today for a free market analysis.
503-977-1888•7830SW35thAve.,Portland,OR
www.parkerrealtyportland.com
August is Hot!
So be cool and advertise in our
Multnomah Days Special Section!
Includes a preview of this year’s
Multnomah Days Festival including
features and photos.
Call Don or Harry at 503-244-6933 for details.
Deadline is July 20.
For an online ratecard and media kit visit www.swportlandpost.com