Project Description:

A new city-owned parking garage will be built to provide new parking options for the 18th and Vine District. This $20-million project will involve the reconstruction of the surface lot at 18th Street and Lydia Avenue. Developers Grayson Capital will be building multi-family housing around the parking garage.

The construction portion of this garage is a project from Kansas City's General Services Department, but Kansas City Public Works will be in charge of running the parking lot once it is opened to the public. Click here to learn more about Kansas City operated garages and lots.

Parking Garage Artwork Update: "Call for Artists" Reopened

In response to community feedback, Kansas City is reopening its call for qualified professional artists or artist teams to design, fabricate, and install a permanent public artwork for the 18th & Lydia Parking Garage in the historic 18th & Vine District:

• Eligible artists can apply here
• The deadline to apply is Monday, April 6, 2026
• Two to five semifinalists will be invited to advance to the RFP phase and submit design proposals.
• The maximum budget for the commissioned artwork is $165,000.
• Part of the One Percent for Art program

Eligibility is limited to professional visual artists or artist teams, age 18 or older, who are based in the Kansas City Combined Statistical Area (CSA). The CSA includes the following counties: 

• Missouri: Andrew, Bates, Buchanan, Caldwell, Cass, Clay, Clinton, DeKalb, Jackson, Johnson, Lafayette, Platte, Ray 
• Kansas: Atchison, Doniphan, Douglas, Franklin, Johnson, Leavenworth, Linn, Miami, Wyandotte 

Virtual Q&A sessions with the public art administrator will be held on the following days: 

• Wednesday, March, 11, 2026, at 5:30 PM
• Thursday, March 12, 2026, at 5:30 PM

For more information, visit the Call for Artists page on CaFÉ. 

Project Features:

• Up to 470 parking spots
• Improvements to fencing, lighting and pavement

Click here for information about parking in city-owned parking garages.

Project Update:

Constructors on the 18th and Lydia Parking Garage project continue to make good progress:

• One lane closed on 19th Street from Paseo to Lydia Avenue, but traffic is still able to get through. This is expected to be in place through May 2026. 
• One lane is closed Lydia Avenue in project boundaries, which is expected to be in place through May 2026. 
• Project team has started drive approaches and ADA ramps. 
• Elevator installation is expected in the coming weeks. 
• Well on track to open for public use by June 1, 2026. 

Project Timeline:

• Major construction started in June 2025
•  The building structure is fully erected as of February 2026, but further work on the inside and surrounding areas still need to be done
• Garage is expected to be completed and operational by June 2026