The Avenida South Garage has closed ahead of demolition, clearing space for the George R. Brown Convention Center’s $2 billion expansion.
HOUSTON — The Avenida South Garage has officially closed, marking the latest step in the planned expansion of the George R. Brown Convention Center.
The 1,459-space garage, long a convenient parking option for downtown workers and visitors, will be demolished to make way for the convention center’s $2 billion expansion project. Houston First, which owns the convention center, has not yet announced when demolition will begin.
For many, the closure is more than just the loss of a parking structure — it marks the end of a daily routine and a familiar part of downtown Houston.
One longtime parker, who asked not to be identified, returned Sunday for one last visit. She said she had parked there for 20 years.
“It may sound crazy, but I just wanted to come and see it one last time,” she said.
The garage’s direct skybridge connection to the convention center has already been removed, another visible sign of the transformation underway. With the closure, nearby parking options are becoming more limited, including at the Toyota Tundra Garage.
A sign outside the Polk Street entrance stated that all vehicles had to be removed by 5 p.m. Sunday.
Not everyone is convinced the timing makes sense.
Ian Hlavacek, a member of the advocacy group People for Polk, questioned the decision to demolish a functioning garage, particularly with the 2026 FIFA World Cup approaching.
“This seems like very poor planning to me with taxpayer money,” Hlavacek said. “If we have a perfectly good garage, maybe you design around it.”
Still, some who relied on the garage acknowledge the project’s long-term benefits, even as they grapple with the immediate inconvenience.
“I know the changes are going to be good in the end,” the longtime parker said. “But right now, it’s hard to think about this not being here anymore.”
For many downtown commuters, the closure is not just about losing 1,459 parking spaces — it’s about losing the one spot they counted on every day.
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