from citizen-times: One of the city’s newest culinary trends could be rolling into downtown by the end of the month. Food trucks that were banned from downtown for more than two decades until a September City Council vote are working to ready a parking lot south of Patton Avenue, said Marni Graves, owner of the Pink Taco Truck. “We’re hoping to be there before Christmas and New Year’s Eve,” said Graves, who specializes in southwestern and Mexican food. The 51 Coxe Ave. lot is south of the Asheville Transit Center and is big enough to hold up to four trucks, according to the city ordinance passed this fall…

The food truck issue proved contentious and stretched out over months with many restaurateurs opposing the mobile kitchens that had become popular in other parts of the city. Restaurant owners said trucks would be taking advantage of a downtown that was revitalized in large part by risk-taking entrepreneurs who pay thousands of dollars in property taxes and on whose back much of downtown’s future rests. But truck owners said allowing street food ranging from tacos to falafel will help small entrepreneurs in a tough economy and add to the city’s burgeoning culinary scene.