As Downtown Salina Grows, Proposed Parking Garage Could Add 144 Spaces

The announcement of a new nine-screen B&B Theatres entertainment complex in downtown Salina is bringing renewed attention to another major downtown proposal already discussed by city leaders: a new public parking garage.

B&B Theatres announced plans to partner with The Alley Entertainment Center and Salina 2020 on a major expansion downtown. Plans call for nine cinema screens, including two Grand Screen auditoriums, ScreenX and 4DX formats, along with Sterling's, B&B's restaurant and bar concept. The project is currently targeted for a 2028 opening and is expected to seek local and state economic development incentives.

The addition of another major entertainment destination will likely increase traffic and parking demand downtown, particularly during evenings and weekends.

That makes a previously proposed downtown parking garage increasingly relevant.

Nearly 400-Space Garage Previously Proposed

In September 2025, Lighthouse Properties presented city commissioners with plans for a new hotel and public parking garage in the 200 block of South Seventh Street.

The proposed development would use an existing city-owned public parking lot containing approximately 155 parking spaces.

Preliminary plans presented to the City called for a parking structure containing approximately 389 spaces, along with an approximately 80-room SpringHill Suites by Marriott.

The 389-space figure, however, is not the same as adding 389 new parking spaces downtown.

Because the garage would replace an existing 155-space public parking lot, and because some of the new spaces would be needed to serve the proposed hotel, the project was expected to result in a net gain of approximately 144 parking spaces.

That net increase is an important distinction as downtown continues to add new attractions and development.

Garage Would Be on Opposite End of Downtown

The proposed parking garage would not be located immediately next to the planned B&B Theatres project.

Instead, it would sit toward the opposite end of the downtown district, meaning it would not serve as a direct replacement for parking immediately surrounding the theater and The Alley.

It could, however, still play an important role in the broader downtown parking system.

Adding approximately 144 net new spaces on one end of downtown could help absorb vehicles that are currently using other public lots and on-street spaces. In turn, that could free up parking closer to restaurants, entertainment venues and other businesses elsewhere downtown.

In other words, the garage would not eliminate parking pressure around the theater itself, but it could help spread parking demand more evenly throughout downtown and relieve some of the overall pressure on existing spaces.

That could become increasingly important as downtown Salina continues adding destinations that draw visitors during the same evening and weekend hours.

Estimated $13 Million Garage

The preliminary garage proposal carried an estimated cost of approximately $13 million.

The concept called for four levels plus rooftop parking, with the garage remaining available for public use.

The project has also involved the City directly.

The proposed hotel and garage site was originally outside Salina's Downtown Tax Increment Financing district. City officials subsequently began the process of expanding the district to include additional property associated with the proposed development.

Expansion of the TIF district, however, should not be confused with final approval of the parking garage itself. A final project plan, development agreement and detailed incentive package would be separate steps.

New Development Changes the Parking Conversation

The B&B announcement adds another significant piece to the downtown parking discussion.

The theater project is planned as more than a traditional cinema. The development would combine nine movie screens with dining and The Alley's existing bowling, arcade and entertainment attractions.

If the project succeeds in drawing more visitors downtown, parking demand will increase along with it.

The garage proposed on South Seventh Street would be some distance from the theater site, but downtown parking does not operate entirely on a building-by-building basis. Additional capacity anywhere within the district can potentially reduce pressure elsewhere by giving employees, hotel guests, downtown residents and visitors additional places to park.

A garage containing 389 spaces sounds substantial on its own, but the more meaningful number is the net gain of approximately 144 parking spaces.

As the theater, hotel and other downtown projects move forward, the larger question will be how those additional spaces fit into the overall downtown parking system — and whether further parking improvements will eventually be needed.

Salina311 will continue following the developments as additional parking, financing and construction details become available.