LINCOLN PARK — If Ald. Michele Smith (43rd) gets her way, food carts will be restricted in certain areas of Lincoln Park.
Smith introduced an ordinance in City Council Dec. 9 that would restrict food carts from operating on the sidewalk in the following areas:
• The east side of CIybourn Avenue, between Racine Avenue and Willow Street
• The south side of West Diversey Parkway, between Pine Grove Avenue and Burling Street
• Both sides of North Clark Street, between Diversey Parkway and Belden Street
• Both sides of Armitage Avenue, between Racine Avenue and Halsted Street
• Both sides of Lincoln Avenue, between Diversey Parkway and Fullerton Parkway
• Both sides of Lincoln Avenue, between Clark Street and Armitage Avenue
• Both sides of Fullerton Parkway, between Lakewood Avenue and Halsted Street
• Both sides of Halsted Street, between Diversey Parkway and Fullerton Avenue
• Both sides of Halsted Street, between Willow Place and Armitage Avenue
Smith argues that pedestrian-heavy Lincoln Park is home to a significant amount of retailers and restaurants, so "adding mobile food carts to the mix of current public-right-of-way obstructions could have a detrimental impact on public safety and pedestrian accessibility." The ordinance can be viewed online.
Smith said food carts in Lincoln Park are usually stationed in parks like Oz Park, which won't be affected by the ordinance.
"Now that these carts are fully legal, we expect growth in the industry. We want to make sure that there are areas where it is comfortable and safe for pedestrians as well as the entrepreneurs," Smith said, adding that she expects the ordinance to pass.
She is the latest alderman to restrict food carts. Aldermen Brendan Reilly (42nd) and Tom Tunney (44th) both moved to limit food carts in their wards — Downtown and in Lakeview surrounding Wrigley Field — by passing ordinances in October.
That was after the City Council signed off a licensing plan for food cart vendors in September.
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