Outdoor areas equipped with grills, pools, and lounge seating are standard for many multifamily communities nowadays, but this garden-style walk-up, developed in phase one of a larger master plan by Columbus Realty Partners and JHP Architecture, has a feature that enhances the idea: food trucks.
The Parkside at Craig Ranch in McKinney, Texas, designated two parking spots next to the community’s leasing center and clubhouse for food trucks only. Every Tuesday and Thursday from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m., food trucks, including Nomadic Grill, Greek Girls Goodies, Surf Franks, and EZ Sliders (pictured), are welcomed to the spots to sell their offerings to the neighborhood’s residents.
Jenifer McNeil Baker Photography
While the food trucks serve residents local fare, a gravel beer garden provides ample park-bench seating with umbrellas. In addition to the seating for truck customers, the roughly 4,000-square-foot garden includes televisions, lawn games, a smoker, a grill, and a kitchen prep area. The space is pet-friendly, like the rest of the community, and is landscaped with drought-tolerant plants. A canopy of trees creates a shaded setting during the day and offers hanging space for stringed lights at night.
Due to the amenity’s popularity, the community is working on a larger food-truck park. The new site will include more parking, be tucked away on a quieter street, and provide similar seating.