Texas Embraces Integrated Parking Solutions Amid Ongoing Population Boom

For the past 15 years, Texas’s population has been steadily growing by 1.56 percent each year, making it the third fastest-growing state in the US. With a growing population comes an increase in passenger vehicles, which is a challenge for municipalities, developers, and business owners. While parking structures have traditionally been the solution, many neighborhoods resist the idea of unsightly boxes disrupting the aesthetic.

However, parking structures can integrate into a community’s beauty and functionality, serve multiple purposes, and free up street parking in congested areas for residential use. Several Texas communities are now embracing this approach, with new parking structures blending in and becoming an asset to their neighborhoods.

This shift in mindset has sparked a wave of innovative parking solutions across the Lone Star State. From artfully designed facades to mixed-use developments that incorporate retail, green space, and public art, Texas is redefining what a parking structure can be.

Here are three of the most notable examples that showcase how functionality and design can go hand in hand.

Lakeside Village Flower Mound Parking Structure

In Flower Mound, Texas, Swinerton partnered with Realty Capital Management on the latest phase of the Lakeside Village project. The 160-acre master development features various residential choices, shops, restaurants, and office space, and now includes a $16 million underground parking garage for the seven-acre South Sunset entertainment district. The structure supports 378 cars across three levels, with two below grade and one at grade level.

By situating the parking structure underground, the view of Lake Grapevine can remain unobstructed from the future public plaza surrounded by restaurants, a wedding chapel, and trails, which will be constructed above the structure. The parking structure incorporates provisions to accommodate the future public plaza and restaurants on top, which will ultimately make this parking garage a thriving destination for the community.

The site’s constraints required meticulous coordination, ensuring smooth access through adjacent construction projects. Through close coordination with Realty Capital Management, Swinerton was able to collaboratively assist in bringing the project to market within budget.

Celina Government Building and Parking Structure

In historic downtown Celina, Texas, Swinerton is spearheading the construction of a new $19.3 million cast-in-place concrete parking structure to support the four-story government center. This center is expanding administrative facilities and creating a community hub. The parking structure will be completed before the government center, addressing immediate parking needs and supporting Celina’s continued growth.

Designed to enhance Celina’s historic charm, the structure will include a masonry exterior that preserves the area’s aesthetic character. One of the garage’s most striking elements will be an elevator lobby, which aligns directly with the atrium of the forthcoming government center. The City of Celina has ambitious plans to redevelop its historic downtown, which includes a multi-floor library, rooftop community space, and essential city administrative offices. The 123,000-square-foot, four-level parking garage will include nearly 400 spaces, alleviating parking challenges surrounding the redevelopment, and is slated for completion in fall 2025, with the Downtown Center expected to be finished by winter 2026.