Kansas City is closing the deteriorating parking garage at Barney Allis Plaza, city says

Nathan Pilling
·2 min read
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Kansas City will close the aging parking garage underneath Barney Allis Plaza, adjacent to the Kansas City Convention Center, next month, according to a news release from the city, which cites the fact that facility is no longer functional and must go through an environmental abatement process before demolition.

Long-term plans call for a new parking structure and park in the space, according to the city.

The underground garage, located between 12th and 13th streets and is across Central Street from the convention center, suffers from problems like crumbling concrete, erosion and dated electrical capabilities, the city said. The deteriorating structure, which currently offers around 475 usable spaces, will close April 15.

The underground Auditorium Plaza Garage, which is located between 12th and 13th streets and is across Central Street from the convention center, suffers from problems like crumbling concrete, erosion and dated electrical capabilities, the city said. The structure, which currently offers around 475 usable spaces, will close April 15.
The underground Auditorium Plaza Garage, which is located between 12th and 13th streets and is across Central Street from the convention center, suffers from problems like crumbling concrete, erosion and dated electrical capabilities, the city said. The structure, which currently offers around 475 usable spaces, will close April 15.

Currently, the city has no demolition plans scheduled, and planning for the renovated open park space and garage is still in process, city spokeswoman Sherae Honeycutt said in an email to The Star. The area atop the garage is imagined as a park space, and the parking garage that would be part of the project is expected to have more spaces than are currently usable there.

“The important thing to know is the garage is at the end of its life,” Honeycutt said. “We can no longer allow it to operate in the condition it is in.”

Repairing the garage would cost around $30 million and would only extend its life for a decade, the city said. The garage was originally built in 1954 and was last renovated in 1984.

The closure comes after years of repairs and work to keep the structure operational. The facility has crumbled and pieces have fallen on parked cars, water leaks have compromised concrete and electrical systems, and in some parts of the garage, crews had to add extra steel to hold up upper levels, The Star reported in 2020 and 2021. Consultants had also found at one point that the garage had no ventilation, which could lead to carbon monoxide build-up.

Long-term plans call for a new parking structure and park at Barney Allis Plaza.
Long-term plans call for a new parking structure and park at Barney Allis Plaza.

“Re-imagined from its current state into a thriving, arts-focused greenspace, there is tremendous potential for Barney Allis Plaza to become a world-class gathering place for residents and visitors alike, creating a huge draw for convention business and tourism sectors, as well as an iconic gathering space for residents,” a city website for the redevelopment effort says. “Now is the time to invest in this key asset near the theater district and adjacent to the South Loop Project, Power & Light District, and downtown baseball.”

The city is pointing those in need of parking near the convention center to a group of garages a short walk away, and transit options like the rideshare service IRIS and the KC Streetcar.

For more information, visit barneyallis.org.