Broadway Autopark is a 44-unit apartment building with covered parking at unit doorsteps and covered patios on the opposite ends located in vibrant downtown Wichita. Broadway Autopark is a 44-unit apartment building in downtown Wichita, with covered parking at unit doorsteps and covered patios on the opposite ends. The late 1940s and early 1950s signified the beginning of a BOOM stage in America.
Post-war, the United States economy was growing exponentially, and the fruits of this prosperity — new cars and other consumer goods — were available to more people than ever before. Cities quickly became overburdened with these new luxuries, and on-street parking was deemed inadequate. An advertisement of the grand opening of Knightley Parking Garage in 1950 announced an air-conditioned waiting room, restrooms and parcel storage where customers could have their packages delivered while shopping. The garage operated 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Early parking garages were rather impressive and were staffed with professional parking attendants. In fact, there is evidence that Knightley Parking Garage was unique in that it was attendant-operated until the 1980s. Upon its construction, the 500-space garage was considered a major civic and commercial asset to Wichita, one that would go a long way in alleviating the ever-present parking problem. Today, Broadway Autopark is doing the same as it becomes a community and commercial asset to downtown Wichita.
