Trucks can park it until the end of the month

Vinay Patidar had a reason to smile yesterday evening after learning that his truck, Kashmiri,… Vinay Patidar had a reason to smile yesterday evening after learning that his truck, Kashmiri, along with others, could continue to sell food in Schenley Plaza until the end of February.

“The city has granted [the trucks] a one-month stay until construction forces them to move,” said City Councilman William Peduto, who attended a meeting with the city departments working on the case. Peduto has also asked the University of Pittsburgh to find an alternative vending spot on campus for the trucks.

“We’re hoping it is somewhere nearby,” Peduto said, adding that some suggestions were for Bigelow Boulevard or near Atwood Street.

The University Senate Council added its voice to the issue yesterday afternoon when a letter from Peduto’s office prompted a resolution from the Senate that “urges [Pitt] to work with the city to allow vendors to remain in Oakland.”

“The decision had more power, coming from both students and faculty,” said Irene Frieze, vice president of the council, which consists of University faculty, staff and students.

“That’s good news,” Patidar said. “I’m very pleased to see everyone working together. We want to stay, and we’re glad others want us to.”

“Construction was delayed, and that’s why they could stay,” said Susan Golomb, director of city planning.

For the future, Peduto has suggested an installation similar to Carnegie Mellon University’s “vending zone,” where vendors can congregate on a certain place on campus.

“The vendors have had a long-standing presence on campus,” Peduto said, “and we have to recognize that.”

Golomb said the vendors could have applied for a different vending space to be approved by City Council, but no one did.

“I wish they had,” she added.

Schenley Plaza is located on land leased by Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy, which will administrate the new plaza, due for completion around the end of the year. The plan for Schenley Park Plaza includes kiosks for vendors. Golomb said the budget for the project was not completed, and rent for these kiosks was not yet established.

If vendors are interested in occupying the kiosks when construction is completed, Golomb suggests they should contact Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy and ask to be notified of openings.

“We would like to encourage local merchants to be in the plaza,” Golomb said.