By Sara Beth Williams–
The site of an approved food truck plaza is now being demolished, and the owner said construction could be complete within the next several months.
Heavy construction equipment could be seen onsite demoing the back of the lot at the long-vacant northeast corner of Auburn Boulevard and Twin Oaks Avenue, which is now surrounded by construction fencing with accompanying construction company signage.
Property owner Jagtar Singh said over the phone a permit was finally received in mid-August, and he anticipates construction to be completed within four months.
The current site has been vacant for years and features a large cement slab that was overgrown with weeds and surrounded by chain-link fencing. Singh has attempted to keep the weeds under control, according to observations by Sentinel staff. Previously Singh said he cleared weeds last year because they were becoming a fire hazard.
Singh said the previous owner, who wanted to use the property for retail purposes, demolished the parking lot area prior to his acquiring the property. Photos from Google images show grass grew and covered the once-demolished parking area.
The Sentinel previously reported that the former property owner had difficulty finding tenants to fill spots for his proposed shopping center, with plans never materializing.
According to Alison Bermudez, senior planner with the city’s Planning Division, Singh purchased the Twin Oaks parcel in the fall of 2023.
Online documents show that the plaza would accommodate up to 15 food trucks and include new landscaping and fencing, appropriate electrical and water hookups, and applicable garbage and food waste disposal locations for food trucks. Singh said the property would be well lit and perimeter fencing and security cameras would also be installed.
The proposed plaza design incorporates a central space for tables with “covered pyramid awnings with lighting.” Several renderings also show colorful triangular canopies as an alternative to pyramid awnings. Lighting would “be directed inward away from neighboring properties,” documents state.
Several more photos show another similar existing model, where food trucks line either side of a busy plaza and metal awnings cover a bustling central thoroughfare, with both round and rectangular tables provided for patrons to sit.
Singh said he is planning to have a variety of food trucks, and wants to offer month-to-month rental spaces where trucks can permanently park. If things go well, Singh said he would like to offer six or 12-month rental agreements for parking spaces. Alcoholic beverages will not be available from any food trucks on site.
Singh also wants to offer Electric Vehicle charging stations at the site so that drivers can charge their vehicles while eating lunch.
