This North Texas attraction draws roughly 10 million visitors each year and now developers are moving forward with a massive parking expansion to keep up with the crowds.
Plans are advancing through the pipeline for a new $14-million parking garage at the Fort Worth Stockyards, designed as “an extension of the historic fabric of the Stockyards,” according to a project presentation.
The four-and-a-half story structure received zoning approval Wednesday from the Fort Worth Zoning Commission. The project would replace the existing 55-space surface parking lot at 115 NW 25th St. and 2458 Ellis Ave. with a structured garage designed to add roughly 246 parking spaces to the district.
A new parking garage is planned for the Fort Worth Stockyards, adding roughly 246 parking spaces to the district. (Fort Worth Planning Commission )
“Once completed, this additional parking will represent a 32 percent increase in parking space options,” according to the presentation. “By consolidating parking into a structured facility, the project also helps reduce the need for scattered surface lots, overflow parking in neighborhoods and supports a more unified and walkable environment long-term.”
The proposed garage is backed by M. L. Leddy’s, a long-time boot retailer in the Stockyards and owner of the adjacent Parking Systems of America surface lot. The garage would have no time limit and would feature commercial, office or retail space on the ground floor, according to Shannon Bearden, who spoke on behalf of the applicants at Wednesday’s meeting.
“We have all seen the growth of the Stockyards, successful growth at that,” Bearden said. “With that successful growth has also brought congestion to the area, notably vehicles.”
A new parking garage is planned for the Fort Worth Stockyards, adding roughly 246 parking spaces to the district. (Fort Worth Planning Commission )
Bearden said the Franklin Family, which owns M. L. Leddy’s, has recognized this as an opportunity to use their property as a way to ease traffic. Citing a 2023 Fort Worth Stockyards traffic study, Bearden said all four streets along the site were exceeding 100 percent capacity due to congestion.
“People are continuously circling the block looking for parking, they’re illegally parking, they’re double parking, they’re making up parking spots, so, parking is needed,” Bearden said, adding that the site is an ideal location for a parking structure.
The structure will feature brick, stucco and wood paneling, according to Bearden. The project is set to go before the Fort Worth City Council for approval on June 9, followed by the Urban Design Commission on June 18.
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This article originally published at Historic Fort Worth Stockyards advances $14M garage to ease crowds.