Downtown parking: Barney Allis Plaza breaks ground on complete overhaul

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) - Big changes are happening now at the Barney Allis Plaza and Parking Garage with city leaders and stakeholders breaking ground on demolition.

The entryway at 12th and Wyandotte Streets leading people into downtown Kansas City, the Power and Light District, the KC Streetcar, and plenty more is changing drastically. Renderings from HOK show upgrades to the entire area -- plaza space, lawn space, pavilion space, and artwork.

Kansas City, Missouri City Councilmember Eric Bunch said at Wednesday’s groundbreaking, “Here in just a short couple of years, we’re going to have hundreds of thousands of people descend onto Kansas City. What better place for them to come than a new, vibrant, public space? I think it was said that is the living room, or the front porch, of Kansas City.”

Mayor Quinton Lucas shared remarks about the journey to this moment and many years of collaboration.

“Old facilities can be rebuilt, can be preserved, can be maintained right where they were before and I think it’s a good sign for us going into the future,” he said.

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The current parking lot boasts nearly 1,000 spaces but faced several violations for leaks, cracks, and overall damage through the years. The new parking lot will offer just shy of 600 spaces, but Lucas said there are several creative ways and partnerships at hand that can help with the decrease at the site itself.

“There will continue to be that collaboration with Kansas City’s Convention Visitors Bureau, Visit KC, and beyond,” Lucas said.

The plaza and garage were constructed in 1955 and redeveloped in 1985. The anticipated completion for the redesigned plaza and garage is summer of 2026.

All on the ground level, people cannot miss it as they make their way around downtown Kansas City.

“Kansas City, Missouri does big projects, has delivered big projects, and has been the center of a region for generations – 150 years – because we know how to build big and great things on time, affordable for our taxpayers,” said Lucas. “I look forward to this project being such a thing.”

Previous Coverage: Downtown parking garage to be demolished, planned close to April

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